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^1 

COURSE    OF 

TIME. 

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0C  ^oem. 

s 

i 

EY  ROBERT  POLLOK, 

A.  M.                 ' 

1 

WITH    A 

MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR 
1 

INDEX,  &c. 

1 

i                       PORTLAND 

5                       SA-VBORN  &  CAP 

TER. 

1844. 

PR 

MEMOIR.  ^^^ 


The  subject  of  Ibis  memoir,  the  Rev.  Robert  Pol- 
lok,  was  z  native  of  Muirhouse,  in  tbe  parish  of  Ea- 
glesham,  situated  aboul  eleven  miles  southeast  from 
the  city  of  Glasgow,  and  was  born  on  tlie  19lh  Oct. 
1798.  Of  his  father,  who  was  a  very  worthy  and 
intelligent  man,  and  good  farmer,  he  was  the  youngest 
son  ;  and  the  days  of  his  early  life  were  devoted  to 
such  pursuits  and  avocations,  as  suited  his  father's  in- 
terests and  inclinations.  Before  he  attained  fourteen 
years  of  age,  v/hether  at  the  instance  of  his  father  or 
of  his  own  choice,  is  not  known,  he  was  sent  to  ac- 
quire the  trade  of  a  cartwriKht,  in  the  village  of  Ea- 
glesham,  and  cnmrnenced  that  business  accordingly  : 
but  owing  to  the  advice  of  his  elder  binther.  who  was 
engaged  in  the  preparatory  studies  for  the  ministry, 
he  was  induced  to  relinquish  his  mechanical  employ- 
ment, and  enter  upon  those  incipient  scholastic  exer- 
cises, necessary  for  one  whose  object  was  the  clerical 
office.  This  new  impulse  given  to  his  inclinations 
and  feelings  by  his  brother,  received  the  sanclioD  of 
his  parents,  and  in  the  year  1S13  he  began  the  study 
of  the  Latin  Grammar,  at  a  school  situated  in  tbe 
parish  of  Fenwick,  where  he  made  rapid  improve- 
ment. 

In  the  month  ot  October,  ISlo,  his  progress  in 
learning  was  so  considerable,  tliat  he  received  admis- 
sion into  the  University  of  Glasgow,  where,  afterfive 
years  of  close  application  to  the  studies  incident  to 
lliat  institution,  ;he  deiree  of  Master  of  Arts  WTJ 
conferred  upon  hira  at  the  age  of  twenty-' 


2052109 


4  MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 

His  devotion  to  his  studies,  and  his  real  for  profi 
ciency  in  them,  justly  received  the  approbation  of  his 
literary  ^ardians,  and  produced  him  several  priZfi 
honors,  which  his  fellow  students  cheerfully  awarded 
him.  But  his  daily  offerinjs,  njade  wilh  so  much 
Zealand  assiduity  in  the  temple  of  leaminz,  consid- 
erably reduced  the  tone  and  vigor  of  his  health  ;  and 
although  unconscious  of  the  injurious  effect  of  too 
much  application,  yet,  it  was  evident  he  was  pre- 
paring, at  nc  remote  period,  to  become  a  martyr  to 
the  studies  he  pursued  with  such  untiring  industrj'. 

Some  time  in  the  autumn  of  1?22,  he  entered' the 
Seminary  of  the  United  Sessions  Church,  as  a  student 
of  Theology,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Dick,  of  Glasgow.  During  this  time  he  was  also  a 
constant  attendant  on  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Macgill,  on 
Theologj',  in  the  Uuiversify. 

After  the  accustomed  period  of  five  sessions  attend- 
ance at  the  Hall,  he  obtained  licence  to  preach,  sim- 
nltaneously  with  his  brother,  in  the  month  of  May, 
1827,  which  was  granted  by  the  United  Associate 
Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  and  he  commenced  the 
work  of  the  ministry  accordingly. 

About  the  period  of  his  licensure,  the  poem,  which 
had  employed  much  of  his  time  and  engrossed  much 
of  his  attention  for  two  antecedent  years,  was  issued 
trom  the  press,  and  given  to  the  world.  It  was  a 
work  worthy  of  its  author,  and  was  properly  appre- 
ciated by  the  public- 

At  Rose-street  Chapel,  Edinburgh,  of  which  the 
Rev.  John  Brown  was  minister,  he  preached  his  first 
public  discourse,  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  the 
third  of  May,  a  day  set  ap^rt  for  humiliation  and 
prayer,  preparatory  to  the  administration  of  tlie  sa- 
crament of  the  supper.  He  took  his  text  in  Ut 
Kings,  xviii.  chap.  21  verse:  "  How  long  halt  ye  be- 
tween two  opinions?  If  the  Lord  be  God,  follow 
him,  but  if  Baal,  then  follow  him." 

This  first  public  efi'ort  appenr?,  from  the  testimony 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR.  6 

of  others,  to  have  been  abundantly  successful.  In  one 
part  of  the  sermon  he  rose  into  an  awful  sublimity, 
which  carried  a  complete  and  lasting  conviction  to  his 
bearers,  of  the  superiority  of  his  talents  and  elo- 
quence. The  London  Memoir,  speaking  of  this  ser- 
DiOD,  says,  "  Many,  we  doubt  not,  who  heard  him 
that  day,  will  recollect  the  profound  and  eloquent  dis- 
course which  he  delivered,  in  which  there  was  a 
brilliant  display  of  poetical  imagery,  combined  with 
metaphysical  acuteness,  and  admirable  reasoning,  and 
many,  we  doubt  not,  wil!  recollect  his  feeble  appear- 
ance', and  the  exhaustion  which  was  apparent  ere  he 
closed.  Alas  !  disease  was  then  making  rapid  inroads 
on  his  constitution,  and  his  public  ministrations  were 
soon  to  end  forever."  The  weariness  and  prostration 
of  strength,  the  offspring  of  this  first  and  bold  exer- 
tion were  so  excessive,  that  after  leaving  the  church, 
he  was  compelled  to  confine  himself  to  his  bed,  and 
notwithstanding  his  subsequent  partial  restoration,  he 
was  only  able  to  preach  three  sermons  afterwards  ; 
the  spirit  which  animated  him  not  possessing  power 
sufficient  to  resist  the  weakness  of  the  body. 

Consumption,  tlial  sly  and  deceitful  destroyer  which 
flatters  but  to  till,  had  fastened  on  his  vitals,  and  with 
its  slow  but  silent  tooth  was  feeding  on  his  constitu- 
tion. Yet  he  did  not  know  the  exent  of  his  danger. 
However,  "  in  the  summer  he  removed  from  Edin- 
burghtoSlateford,  a  most  romantic  village  in  the  par- 
ish of  St.  Cuthbert's,  delightfully  situated  on  the  riv- 
ulet called  the  Water  of  Leith,  about  three  miles 
from  the  city.  There,  in  the  family  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Belfraie,  ininister  of  the  United  Congregation  of 
Slateford,  he  was  received  with  the  utmost "afl'ection 
and  respect.  The  salubrity  of  the  air,  and  particular 
attention  to  diet,  it  was  fondly  anticipated,  would  re- 
store him  to  vigor,  especially  as  he  had  youth  and  the 
advantage  of  the  season  in  his  favor.  The  well 
known  medical  reputation  of  Dr.  Bellrage,  was  for- 
tunate tor  him  in  this  delightful  retirement.  Findios 
A3 


6  MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 

however,  that  his  health  waa  not  returning,  he  wa*, 
duriu;  the  summer,  ioJuced  to  take  an  easy  tour  to 
Aberdeea,  in  the  hope  that  change  of  air  and  scene 
niisht  recruit  his  cxoausted  frame.  But  the  expecta- 
tions of  his  friends  were  disappointed.  He  returned, 
and  it  was  evident  that  disease  was  quickly  hasteuiug 
him  to  the  grave." 

It  was  now  thought  necessary  that  a  change  of  cli- 
mate should  be  tried,  and  it  w'as  anticipated  that  lb« 
salubrious  air  of  Italy  might  restore  him  to  health. 
The  city  of  Pisa,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Tuscany, 
was  the  place  selected  for  his  residence.  To  a  mind 
like  his,  deeply  stored  with  classical  learning,  and  ca- 
pable of  apiir'eciating  the  scenes  of  that  delii^htful 
country,  such  a  residence  must  have  possessed  the 
highest  interest.  The  fixed  determination  to  vjsit 
the  classic  soil  of  Italy  was  attempted  to  be  carried 
into  efi'ect,  as  soon  as  the  preliminary  arrangements 
necessary  for  his  comfort  on  the  jouriiey  were  execu- 
ted, and  letters  recoajmending  him  to  the  favorable 
notice  and  atiention  of  individuals,  celebrated  I'or 
their  learning  on  the  Continent,  were  procured.  Ac- 
companied by  his  sister,  be  set  out  from  Scotland,  in 
August,  on  hiS  journey. 

'•He  proceeded  by  sea  to  England,  and  went  first  to 
Plymou'h  ,  but  the  state  of  his  health  rendered  it  im- 
possible for  him  to  go  forward,  anJ  only  the  hope  re- 
mained that  if  spared  till  the  next  summer,  he  would 
perhaps  be  enabled  to  complete  his  journey.  He 
therefore  took  up  his  residence  near  Sonlhanip'ton,  at 
Devonshire  Place,  Shirley  Common." 

This  was  the  Ultima  Thule  of  bis  journeyines.  II 
was  soon  apparent  that  his  disease  was  loo  deeply 
planted  to  be  removed  :  and  hope,  the  last  etfiirt  of 
the  mind  in  sickness,  was  now  extinct.  Under  the 
conviction  that  he  could  not  recover,  he  wrote  to  his 
brother  in  Scniland  touching  his  condition,  which  he 
considered  hopeless,  and  stated  to  his  sister,  wh.o  was 
with  him,  that  he  should  have  remained  at  home,  bad 


RIE.MOIR  OF  TUK  ADTHOR.  7 

he  been  able  to  realize  the  rapidly  destructive  nftturo 
of  his  disease. 

Afier  a  few  afflictive  days  of  Ibgering  paiu,  pre- 
monitorv  of  his  hastening  dissolution,  he  died  on  the 
18th  of  September,  1827.  His  mortal  remains  were 
soon  after  decently  interred,  his  brother  not  arriving 
until  after  his  burial.  He  died  in  the  full  persuasion 
of  the  truth  of  the  christian  system,  which  he  had  es- 
sayed to  preach  ;  and  was  cheered  in  his  last  mo- 
ments by  a  calmness  and  tranquility  of  mind,  arising 
from  his  firm  and  unshaken  faith  in  the  religion  he 
professed,  and  an  unwavering  confidence  in  the  glo- 
ries of  that  promised  redemption,  which  he  had  de- 
lineated with  such  pathos,  eloquence  and  power. 

He  fell  a  martyr  to  his  too  great  avidity  for 
knowledge,  and  his  books  were  literally  his  execu- 
tioners. 

The  Course  of  Time,  the  poem  which  had  employ- 
ed his  thoughts  for  a  long  period  antecedent  to  Us 
appearance,  and  of  which  he  had  furnished,  for  the 
four  last  books,  almost  a  thousand  lines  each  week, 
is  well  worthy  the  eulogies  it  received,  and  the  admi- 
ration it  obtained.  For  fourteen  years  before  its 
birth,  this  intellectual  child  was  conceived  by  the  au- 
thor, in  his  juvenile  days ;  and  lived  in  emnryo 
thought  as  the  offspring  of  his  maturing  mind.  When 
it  was  introduced  to  the  world,  it  met,  therefore,  that 
flatterins  reception  to  which  its  merit  entitled  it; 
and  wound  a  wreath  of  fame  around  the  memory  of 
the  genius  and  talents  of  its  departed  author.  The 
public  approved  the  work,  and  furnished  ample  fe» 
timony  in  favor  of  him  who  wrote  it,  by  the  avidity 
with  which  they  sought,  and  the  commendations  they 
bestowed  upon  it. 

His  other  literary  performances,  are  three  Sabbath 
School  tales,  written  when  he  was  engaged  in  the 
ftndy  of  Theology,  and  published  without  the  sanc- 
»ion  of  his  name  :  they  were  entitled   "  Helen  of  the 


8  MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 

GlcD;"  "  Ralph  Gemmell,"  and  "  1  lie  Persecuted 
Family." 

In  his  preface  to  the  "  Persecnfed  Family,"  he  says, 
"  every  sig'o  of  our  persecuted  ancestors  is  recorded 
in  heaven  ;  every  tear  which  they  shed,  is  preserved 
m  the  bottle  of  God.  Why  then,  should  not  their 
memories  be  dear  to  us  for  whom  they  bled  and  for 
whom  they  died  ?  But  it  is  not  only  that  we  may 
pay  them  our  debt  of  gratitude,  that  we  oueht  to  ac- 
quaint ourselves  with  their  lives  ;  it  is  that  we  may 
Rather  humility  from  their  lowliness  ;  faith  from 
their  trust  in  God  ;  courage  from  their  heaven-sus- 
tained fortitude  ;  warmth  from  the  flame  of  their 
devotion,  and  hope  from  their  glorious  success  " 

We  cannot  conclude  this  hasty  sketch  of  the  life, 
talents,  character,  and  productions  of  Mr.  FoUok 
better  than  by  copying  the  language  of  one  who  wrote 
his  memoir.  In  attending  to  his  death,  he  says,  "He 
has  gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth ;  and  his  spirit,  we 
fondly  hope,  is  among  the 'spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect,' who,  'by  faith  and  patience,  are  now  in- 
heriting the  promises.'  But  he  lives  in  the  hearts  of 
bis  friends,  who  think  of  him  with  fond  regret ;  he 
lives  in  the  hearts  of  his  countryiiien ;  and  hispiaise 
is  not  only  in  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  licen- 
tiate, but  in  all  the  churches.'' 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME, 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  I. 

The  author  invokes  the  Eternal  Spirit  to  Inspire  his 
song,  that  he  may  sing  The  Course  of  Time,  The 
second  birtli  and  finaJ  doom  of  man,  the  essential 
truth,  time  gone,  the  righteous  saved,  the  wicked 
damned,  and  providence  approved. 

Long  after  time  had  ceased  and  Eternity  had  rolled 
on  its  periods,  numbered  only  by  God  alone,  a  stran- 
ger spirit  arrives  high  on  the  hills  of  immortality, 
and  is  there  met  by  two  other  spirits,  youthful  sons 
of  Paradise,  who  greet  him  with  "  Well  done  thou 
good  andfai!hful  servant," and  invite  him  lo  ascend 
Ihe  throne  of  God. 

The  stranger  informs  them,  that,  when  he  left  his  na- 
tive world,  on  his  way  towards  heaven,  he  came 
to  a  realm  of  darkness,  where  he  saw  beings  of  all 
shapes,  all  forms,  all  modes  of  wretchedness,  in  a. 
place  of  torment,  burning  continually,  &  dying  per- 
petuallv,  and  heard  curses  and  blasphemies  :  the 
meaning  of  which  he  requests  them  to  unfold  to 
him :  but  they  being  unable,  introduce  him  to 
an  ancient  bard  of  the  earth,  and  all  three  request 
him  to  explain  to  them  the  wonders  of  the  place  of 
torments,  and  prison  of  the  damned. 

The  bard  informs  them  that  the  place  the  stranger 
saw  was  Hell ;  the  groans  he  heard  the  wailing* 
of  the  damned,  and  that  he  will  have  his  asking, 
and  that,  wondering  doubt,  shall  learn  to  answer, 
while  he  gives  them,  in  brief,  the  history  of  Man. 


BOOK  I. 


X/TE 


TERNAL  Spirit !  God  of  truth !  to  whom 
All  things  seem  as  they  are ;  tliou  wbo  of  old 
The  prophet's  eye  unsealed,  that  ni^htiy  ssir, 
While  heavy  sleep  fell  down  on  other  men, 
In  holy  vision  tranced,  the  future  pass 
Before  him,  and  to  Judah's  harp  attuned 
Burdens  that  made  the  pa^an  mounlaius  shake, 
And  Ziob's  cedars  bow — inspire  my  song; 
My  eye  unscale  ;  nie  what  is  substance  teach,  . 
♦And  siiadow  what,  while  I  of  things  to  come,  ' 
As  past  rehear^in^,  sing  the  Course  of  Time, 
The  seccad  Birth,  and  final  Doom  of  man. 

The  muse,  that  soft  and  sickly  woos  the  ear 
Of  love,  or  chantin;  loud  in  windy  rhyme 
Of  tabled  hero,  raves  through  gaudy  tale 
No*,  overfrausht  with  sense,  1  ask  not ;  such 
A  strain  befits  not  nrpiment  so  high. 
Me  thought,  and  phrase,  severely  sifting  out 
The  whole  idea,  eran* — uttering  as  "tis 
The  essential  truth — Time  goue,  the  Righteous  saved, 
The  wicked  damned,  and  I'rovideuceapproved. 

Hold  my  right  hand,  Almighty !  and  me  teach 
Tn  strike  the  lyre,  but  sfl'iorn  struck,  to  notes 
Uanuonious  with  the  morcing  stars,  and  pure 


J2  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

As  those  of  sainted  bards,  and  angels  sung, 
SVhich  wake  the  echoes  of  eteruity — 
That  fools  may  hear  and  tremble,  and  the  wise 
Instructed  listen,  of  ages  yet  lo  come. 

Long  wSs  the  day,  so  Ion»  eipected,  past 
Of  the  eternal  doom,  that  ?ave  to  each 
Of  all  the  human  race  his  due  reward. 

.The  sun— earth's  siln,  and  Djoon,  and  stars,  had  ceased 
1  o  number  seasons,  days,  and  months,  and  years 
To  mortal  man  :  hope  was  forgotten,  and  fear  ; 
And  Time,  with  all  its  chance  and  change,  and  smiles, 
And  frequent  tears,  arid  deeds  of  villa  ny, 
Or  righteousness — once  talked  of  much,  as  things 
Of  great  renown,  was  now  but  ill  remembered  ; 
In  dim  and  shadowy  vision  of  the  past, 

w£een  far  remote,  as  country,  which  has  left 
The  traveller's  speedy  step,  retiring  f-sck 
From  mom  till  etea ;  and  !"■  '  - '  ■  ■    •■ 
Had  rolled  his  mighty  yi  ?■  '.-ri 

Men  had  grown  old  :  thi  "  .        umed 

From  pilgrimage,  and  w.r  .^ 

Had  Tested  in  the  bowers  oi  v  •■  r,  i'  l  r  Airt 
The  strann  of  life  ;  and  1  Jog.  alis,  now  long 
To  thepri  it  seemed,  the  wicked  who  refused 
To  be  redeemed,  had  wandered  in  the  dirk 
Of  hell's  despiir,  ajid  drunk  the  buruitig  cup 
Their  sins  had  ftiled  with  everlasting  wo.. 

Thus  far  the  years  had  rolled,  which  none  but  God 
Doth  number,  when  two  sons,  two  youthful  soot 
Of  Paradise,  in  conversation  sweet, 
(For  thus  the  heavenly  muse  instructs  me,  wooed 
At  midnight  hour  with  offering  sincere 
Of  all  the  heart,  poured  out  in  hoiy  prayer,) 
High  on  the  hilis  of  immortality,  ' 
V/hence  goodliest  prospect  look's  beyond  the  walla 
Of  heaven,  walked,  casting  oft  '.heir  eye  far  thro' 
The  pure  serene,  observant,  if  returned 


From  errand  duly  finished,  any  came, 
Or  any,  first  in  virtue  now  complete, 
Tromothcr  worlds  arrived,  confirmed  lu  good. 

Thus  viewing,  one  they  saw,  on  hasty  wing 
Directing  towards  heaven  his  cojrse  j  and  now 
His  flight  ascending  near  tl;e  battlements 
And  lofty  hills  on  which  they  walked,  approached. 
For  round  and  round,  in  spacious  circuit  wide, 
Mountains  of  tailtst  stature  circumscribe 
The  plains  of  Paradise,  wbcse  tops,  arrayed 
In  uncr.rated  radiance,  seem  so  pure. 
That  nought  but  an§el's  foot,  or  saint's  elect 
Of  God,  may  venture  there  to  walk  J^here  oft 
The  sons  of  bliss  take  moni  or  eveninz  pastime, 
Delifhied  to  behold  ten  tlwusand  worlds 
Around  their  suns  revolving  in  the  vast 
External  space,  or  listen  to  the  barmonies 
That  each  lo  other  in  its  motion  sin^s. 
And  hence,  in  middle  heaven  remote,  is  seen 
The  mount  of  God,  in  awful  glory  bright. 
Within,  no  orb  create  of  moon,  or  star, 
Or  sun  gives  light ;  for  God"s  own  countenance, 
Beaming  e(ernaily,  gives  light  to  all  ; 
But  farther  than  these  sacred  hills  his  will 
Forbids  its  flow — too  bright  for  eyes  beyond. 
This  is  tie  last  ascent  of  Virtue  ;  'here 
All  trial  ends,  and  hope;  here  perfect  joy. 
With  perfect  righteousness,  which  to  these  heights 
Alone  can  rise,  "begins,  above  all  fall. — 

And  now  on  wina;  of  holy  ardor  strong, 
Hiti*r  ascends  the  stranger."  borne  upright  ; 
For  strangf-r  he  did  seenri,  with  curious  eye 
(  f  nice  inspection  round  surveying  all, 
And  at  the  feel  alights  of  those' that  stood 
His  coming,  who  the  hand  of  welcome  gave, 
And  the  embrace  sincere  of  holy  love ; 
And  thu«,  wi'h  comsly  eresticg  kind,  began. 


U  THE  COURSE  Of  TIME. 

HaJl,  brother !  hail,  thou  son  of  hapoiness  ! 
Thou  son  beloved  of  God  !  welcome  ,to  heaveu ! 
To  bliss  that  never  fades  !  thy  day  is  past 
Of  trial,  and  of  fear  to  fall.    Well  done, 
Thou  good  and  faithful  sen'ant,  enter  now 
Into  the  joy  eternal  of  thy  Lord. 
Come  with  us,  and  behold  far  highersi^ht 
Than  e'er  thy  heart  desired,  or  hope  cnnciuved. 
See,  yonder  is  the  glorious  hill  of  God, 
'Bove  angel's  gaze,  in  brightness  rising  high.    .*^ 
Come,  join  our  wing,  and  we  will  guide  thy  flight 
To  mysteries  of  eveVlastirig  bliss  ; —  - 
The  tree,  and  fount  of  life,  the  eternal  tbrnne, 
And  presence-chamber  of  the  Kingpf  kings. 
But  what  concern  hangs  on  thy  countenance, 
Unwont  within  this  place  ?  perhaps  thou  deem'st 
Thyself  unworthy  to  be  brought  before 
The  alwavs  Ancient  One  ?  so  are  >ve  too 
Unworthy  ;  but  our  God  is  all  in  all. 
And  gives  us  lioldness  to  approach  his  throne. 

Sons  of  the  highest !  citizens  of  heaven  ! 
Began  the  neiv  arrived,  right  have  ye  judged: 
Unworthy,  most  unworthy  is  your  servant. 
To  stand  in  presence  of  the  King,  or  hold 
Most  distant  and  most  humble  place  in  this 
Abode  of  excellent  glory  unrevealed. 
But  God  Almighty  be  forever  praised. 
Who,  of  his  fulness,  fills  roe  with  all  grace. 
And  ornament,  to  make  me  in  his  sight 
Well  pleasing,  and  accepted  in  his  court. 
But  if  your  leisure  waits,  short  narrative 
Will  tell,  why  s'range  concern  thus  overhacgs 
My  face,  ill  seeming  here;  and  haply  too, 
Your  elder  knowledge  can  instruct  my  youth. 
Of  what  seems  dark  and  doubtful  unexplained. 

Our  leisure  waits  thee  ;  speak — and  wh.it  we  ran. 
Delighted  most  to  give  delight,  we  will  ; 


Though  much  of  mystery  yet  to  U3  remahi. 

Virtue — I  need  not  tell,  when  proved,  and  full 
Matured — inclines  us  up  to  God,  and  heaven, 
By  law  of  sweet  compulsiou  strong,  and  sure  ; 
As  gravitation  to  the  larger  orb 
The  less  attracts,  thro'  matter's  whole  domain. 
Virtue  in  me  was  ripe — tspeik  not  this 
In  boast,  for  what  I  amJo  God  I  owe. 
Entirely  owe,  and  of  myself  am  nought. 
Equipped,  and  bent  for  teaven,  1  left  yon  world. 
My  native  seat,  which  scarce  your  eye  can  reach; 
lioUing  around  her  central  sun,  far  out. 
On  utmost  verge  of.  light :  but  first  to  see 
What  lay  beyond  the  visible  creation 
Strong  curiosity  niy  flight  impelled. 
Long  was  ray  way  and  sirange.    I  passed  the  bounds 
Wfijch  God  doth  set  to  light,  and  life, and  love  ; 
Where  darkness  meets  wiih  day,  where  order  met^ti 
Disorder  dreadful,  waste  and  wild  ;  and  down 
The  dark,  eternal,  uncrealcsd  night 
Ventured  alone.     Long,  long  on  rapid  wing, 
I  sailed  through  empty,  nameless  regions  vast, 
Where  utter  Nothingdwells,  unformed  and  void.- - 
There  neither  eye,  nor  ear,  nor  any  sense 
Of  being  most  acute,  finds  object ;  there 
For  ought  externa!  still  you  search  in  vain.   ' 
Try  touch,  or  sight,  or  smell  ;  try  what  yon  will, 
Voii  strangely  find  nought  but  yourself  alone. 
But  why  sliould  1  in  words  attempt  to  tell 
What  that  is  like  which  is— and  yet— is  not  ? 
This  past,  my  path  descending  still  me  led 
O'er  unclaimed  euntinen's  of  desert  gloom 
Immense,  where  gravitation  shifting  turns 
The  other  way  i.  and  to  some  dread,  unknown, 
Infernal  centre  downward  weighs :  and  now, 
Far  travelled  from  the  edge  of  daikness,  far 
As  from  that  glorious  moi;nt  of  God  to  light's 
I^eniotest  lin:b — dire  sights  I  saw,  dire  sounds 


id  THE  COURSE  OF  TIMK. 

I  heard  ;  and  suddenly  before  my  eye 

A  wall  of  fiery  adamant  sprung  up — 

Wall  nioantainnus,  treoiendous,  famine;  high 

Above  all  flight  of  hope.     I  paused,  and  looked  ; 

And  saw,  where'er  I  looked  upon  that  mound, 

Sad  figures  traced  in  fire — not  motionless — 

But  imitating  life.     One  I  remarked 

Attentively  fbut  how  shall  I  describe 

What  nought  n  sembles  else  my  eye  hath  seen  ? 

Of  worm  or  serpent  kind  it  something  looked, 

But  monstrous,  with  a  thousand  snaky  heads, 

E)ed  each  with  double  orbs  of  glaring  wrath  ; 

And  with  as  many  tails,  that  twis'ed  out 

In  horrid  revolution,  tipped  with  stings  ; 

And  all  ifs  moi^hs,  (hat  wide  and  darkly  gaped, 

And  breathed  most  poisonous  breath,  had  e^ch  a  sting 

Forked,  and  long,  and  venomous,  and  sharp  j 

And  in  its  wTithings  infinite,  it  grasped 

Malignantly  what  seemed  a  heart,  swollen,  black, 

And  quivering  with  torture  most  intense  ; 

And  still  the  hekrt,  with  anguish  throbbing  high, 

Made  effort  to.fiJBcape,  but. could  not ;  for 

Howe'er  it  turned,  and  oft  it  vainly  turned, 

These  complicated  foldings  held  if  fast. 

And  still  the  monstrous  beast  with  sting  of  head 

Or  tail  transpierced  it,  bleeding  evermore. 

What  this  could  image  much  I  searched  to  know, 

And  while  I  stood,  and  gazed,  and  wondered  lonr, 

A  voice,  from  whence  I  knew  not,  for  no  one 

I  saw,  distinctly  whispered  in  my  ear 

These  words— This  is  the  Worm  that  never  dies. 

Fast  by  the  side  of  this  unsightly  thing 
Another  was  portrayed,  more  hideous  still ; 
Who  sees  it  once  shall  wish  to  see'l  no  more. 
For  ever  undescribed  let  it  remain  ! 
Only  this  much  I  may  or  can  unfold — 
Far  out  it  thrust  a  dart  that  might  have  made 
The  knees  of  terror  quake,  and  on  it  hnng. 


BOOK  I.  17 

Within  the  triple  barbs,  a  being  pierced 

Thro'  soul  and  body  both  v  of  heavenly  make 

Original  the  being  seemed,  but  fallen, 

And  worn  and  wasted  with  enormous  wo. 

And  still  around  the  everlasting  lance 

It  writhed  convulsed,  and  utteral  mimic  groans; 

And  tr.ed  and  wished,  and  ever  tried  and  wished 

To  die  ;  but  could  not  die — Oh,  horrid  siirht  ! 

I  trembling  gazed,  and  listened,  and  heard  this  voice 

Approach  my  ear— This  is  Eternal  Death. 

Nor  \hess  alnrie — upon  that  burning  wall, 
In  horrible  emblazonry,  were  limned 
All  shapes,  all  fofms,  all  mo»ies  of  wretchedness. 
And  agony,  and  grief,  and  desperate  wo. 
And  prominent  in  characters  of  fire, 
Where'er  the  eye  could  light,  these  words  you  read, 
"  Who  comes  this  way— behold,  and  fear  to  tin  I" 
Amazed  I  stood  :  and  thought  such  imagery 
Fore'okened.  w;;hin,  a  dangerous  abodej. 
But  yet  to  s^|tte  worst  a  wish  arose  : 
For  lUTtue,  hj^jeholy  seal  of  God 
Accredited  ands^M^ed.  immi-rial  all. 
And  all  havuinerablerfcars  no  hurl. 
As  easy  A^my  wish,  as  apidly 
I  thro'  tJK  horrid  ramnafll  passed,  unscathed 
And  unoppo«t:i  ;  and,  poilpd  on  steady  wing, 
i  hovering  ga^etl.    EtemaT-Justice  !  Sons 
Of  God  !  lei!  me,  if  ye  eMtell.  what  then 
I  saw,  what  then  I  heai9— Wide  was  the  place. 
And  deep  as  wide,  and  ruinous  as  deep. 
Beneath  I  saw  a  lake  of  burning  fjre. 
With  tempest  lost  perpetually,  andgBl 
The  waves  of  iiery  darkness,  'gain^ie  rocks 
Of  dark  damnation  broke,  and  music  made 
Of  melancholy  E.rt ;  and  pver  he^d,         » 
And  a!)  arouf  d,wind  warred  with  wind,8Wnn  howled 
To  s'orni,  and  ligr.fning,  forked  lightning,  crossed, 
And  thunder  answered  thunder,  muttering  sound 


18  THE  COUBSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  sullen  wrath  ;  and  far  as  si5ht  conld  pierce, 

Or  down  descend  in  caves  of  hopeless  depth, 

Thro'  all  that  dungeon  of  unfading  fire, 

I  saw  most  miserable  beings  walk, 

Burning  continually,  yet  unconsumed  ; 

Forever  wasting,  yet  enduring  still  ; 

Dying  perpetually,  yet  never  dead. 

Some  wandered  lonely  in  the  desert  flames, 

And  some  in  fell  encounter  fiercely  met, 

With  curses  loud,  and  blasphemies,  that  made 

The  cheek  of  darkness  pale  ;  and  as  they  fought. 

And  cursed,  and  gnashed  their  teeth,  and  wish^i  to  die 

Their  hollow  eyes  did  utter  streams  of  wo. 

And  there  were  groans  that  ended  not,  and  sighs 

That  always  sighed,  and  tears  that  ever  wept, 

And  ever  fell,  but  not  in  Mercy's  sight. 

And  Sorrow,  and  Repentance,  and   Despair, 

Among  them  walked,  and  to  their  thirsty  lips 

Presented  frequent  cups  of  burning  gall. 

And  as  I  listened,  I  heard  these  beings  curse 

Almighty  God,  and  curse  the  Lamb,  and  curse 

The  Earth,  the  Resurrection  morn,  and  seek, 

And  ever  vainly  seek  for  utter  death. 

And  to  their  everlasting  anguish  still. 

The  thunders  from  above  responding  spoke 

Thess  words,  which  thro'  the  caverns  of  perdition 

Forlornly  echoing,  fell  on  every  ear— 

"  Ye  knew  yOur  duty,  but  ye  did  it  not." 

And  back  asain  recoiled  a  deeper  groan. 

A  deeper  groan  '.  Oh,  what  a  groan  was  that ! 

I  waited  not,  but  swift  on  speediest  wing, 

With  unaccustomed  thoughts  conversing,  back 

Ketracai  my  venturous  path  from  dark  ra  light ', 

Then  up  ascending,  long  ascending  up,    , 

I  hasted  on  ;  tho'  whiles  the  chiming  spheres, 

By  God's  own  finger  touched  to  harmony, 

Held  me  delaving— till  I  here  arrived. 

Drawn  upward  by  the  eternal  love  of  God, 

Of  wonder  full  and  strange  astonishment. 


At  what  in  yonder  den  of  darkness  dwells  , 

Which  now  jour  higher  knowledge  will  unfold.y 

They  answering  said  ;  to  ask  and  to  bestow 
Knowledge,  is  much  of  Heaven's  delight  ;  and  now 
Most  joyfully  what  thou  requir'st  n  e  would  ; 
For  much  of  new  and  unaccountable, 
Thou  bring'st ;  something  indeed  we  heard  before. 
In  passing  conver^tion  slightly  touched, 
Of  such  a  place  ;  yet  rather  to  be  taught, 
Than  teaching.  anSwer  what  thy  marvel  asks. 
We  need  ;  for  we  ourselves,  tho'  here,  are  but 
Of  yesterday — creation's  younger  sons. 
But  there  is  one,  an  ancient  bard  of  Earth, 
Who,  by  the  stream  of  life  sitting  rn  bliss, 
Has  oft  "beheld  the  eternal  years  complete 
The  mighty  circle  round  the  throne  of  God  ; 
Great  in  aU  learning,  in  all  wisdom  great, 
And  great  in  song  ;  whose  harp  in  lofty  strain 
Tells  frequently  "of  what  thy  wonder  craves. 
While  round  him  gathering  stand  the  youth  of  Heaven 
With  truth  and  melody  delighted  both  ; 
To  him  this  path  directs,  an  easy  path. 
And  easy  flight  will  bring  us  to  bis  seat. 

So  saying,  they  linked  hand  in  band,  spread  out 
Their  golden  wings,  by  living  breezes  fanned, 
And  over  heaven's  broad  champaign  sailed  serene. 
O'er  hill  and  valley  clothed  with  verdure  green 
That  never  fades  ;'and  Iree,  and  herb,  and  flower, 
That  never  fades  ;  and  many  a  river,  rich 
With  nectar,  winding  pleasantly,  they  passed  ; 
And  mansion  of  celestial  mould,  and  work 
Divine,    And  oft  delicious  music,  sung 
By  saint  and  angel  bands  that  walked  the  vales, 
Or  mountain  tops,  and  harped  upon  theirharps. 
Their  ear  inclined,  and  held  by  sweet  constraint 
Their  wing  ;  not  I'jng,  for  stroua  desire  awaked 
Of  knowledge  that  tn  holy  use  might  turn, 
E2 


20  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Still  pressed  them  on  to  leave  what  rather 
Pleasure,  due  only,  when  all  duty's  done." 

And  DOW  beneath  them  lay  the  wished  for  spot, 
The  sacred  bower  of  that  renowned  bard  ; 
That  ancient  bard,  ancient  in  days  and  song ; 
But  in  immortal  vigor  young,  and  young 
In  rosy  health — to  pensive  solitude 
Retiring  oft,  as  was  his  wont  on  earth. 

Fit  was  the  place,  most  fit  for  holy  musing. 
Upon  a  little  mount  that  gently  rose, 
He  sat,  clothed  in  white  robes  ;  and  o'er  his  head 
A  laurel  tree,  of  lustiest,  eldest  growth. 
Stately  and  tall,  and  shadowing  far  and  wide — 
Not  fruitless,  as  on  earth,  but  bloomed,  and  rich 
With  frequent  clusters,  ripe  to  heavenly  taste — 
Spread  its  eternal  boughs,  and  in  its  arms 
A  myrtle  of  unfading  leaf  embraced  ; 
The  rose  and  lily,  fresh  with  fragrant  dew. 
And  every  flower  of  fairest  cheek,  around 
Him  smiling  flocfeed  ;  beneath  his  feet,  fast  by, 
And  round  his  sacred  hill,  a  streamlet  walked, 
Warbling  the  holy  melodies  of  heaven  ; 
The  hallowed  zephyrs  brought  him  incense  sweet  - 
And  out  before  him  opened,  in  prospect  long, 
The  river  of  life,  in  many  a  winding  maze 
Descending  from  the  Infty  throne  of  God, 
That  with  excessive  glory  closed  the  scene. 

Of  Adam's  race  he  was,  and  lonely  sat, 
By  chance  thatd.iy,  in  meditation  deep. 
Reflecting  much  of  Time,  and  Earth,  and  Man  : 
And  now  to  pensive,  now  to  cheerful  notes, 
He  touched  a  harp  of  wondrous  melody  ; 
A  golden  harp  it  was,  a  precious  sift. 
Which,  at  the  day  of  judgment,  with  the  crown 
Of  life,  he  had  received  from  God's  own  band. 
Reward  due  to  his  service  done  ou  earth. 


He  sees  their  coming,  and  with  greeting  kind 
And  welcome,  not  of  hollow  forged  smiles, 
And  ceremonious  compliment  of  plira.se, 
But  of  the  heart  sincere,  into  his  bower 
Invitee.     Like  greeting  they  relumed  ;  not  bent 
In  low  obeisancy,  from  creature  most 
-Unfit  to  creature  ;  but  with  manly  form 
Upright  they  entered  in  :  though  high  nis  rank, 
Hi9  wisdom  high,  and  mighty  his  renowt,. 
And  thus  deferring  all  apology. 
The  two  their  new  companijii  introduced. 

Ancient  in  knowledge  !— bard  of  Adam's  race ! 
We  bring  thee  one  of  us,   inquirin?  what 
We  need  to  learn,  and  with  him  wish   to  learn — 
His  asking  will  direct  thy  answer  best. 

Most  ancient  bard  '.  began  the  new  arrived, 
Few  words  will  set  my  wonder  forih,  and  guide 
Thy  wisdom's  light  to  what  in  me  is  dark. 

Equipped  for  heaven,  1  left  my  native  place; 
But  first  beyond  the  realms  of  light  I  bent 
My  course  ;  and  there,  in  utter  darkness,  far 
Remote,  1  beings  saw  forlorn  in  wo. 
Burning  coniinuatly,  yet  unconsumed. 
And  there  were  groans  that  ended  not.  and  sigha 
That  always  sighed,  and  tears  that  ever  wept 
And  ever  fell,  but  not  in  Mercy's  sizht  ; 
And  still  I  heard  these  ivretcbed  beings  curse 
Almighty  God,  and  curse  the  Lamb,  and  curse 
The  Earth,  the  Resurrection  morn,  and  seek, 
And  ever  vainly  sec-k  for  utter  death  : 
And  from  above  the  thunders  answered  still, 
"Ye  knew  your  duly,  but  ye  d.d  it  not." 
And  every  where  Ihroughout  that  horrid  deo, 
I  saw  a  form  of  Excellence,  a  form 
Of  beauty  without  spot,  that  noi:ght  could  see 
And  not  admire — admire,  and  uot  adore. 
E3 


22  THE  COCKSE  OF  TIME. 

And  from  its  own  essential  beams  it  gave 

Lieht  to  itself,  that  made  the  gloom  more  dark  ; 

And  every  eye  in  that  infernal  pit 

Beheld  il  still;  and  from  its  face,  how  fair  ! 

0  how  exceeding  fair  !  for  evet  sought. 

But  ever  vainly  sought,  to  turn  away. 

That  image,  as  I  guess,  was  Virtue,  for 

Kought  else  hath  Clod  given  countenance  so  fair. 

But  why  in  mch  a  place  should  it  abide  ? 

What  place  is  it?    What  beings  there  lament  ? 

Whence  came  they  ?  and  for  what  their  endless  groan  ? 

Why  curse  they  God  ?  why  seek  they  utter  death  i 

And  chief,  what  means  the  reburrection  mom  ? 

My  youth  expects  thy  reverend  age  to  tell. 

Thou  rightly  deem'st,  fair  youth,  began  the  bard  j 
The  form  thou  saw'st  was  virtue,  ever  fair. 
Virtue,  like  God,  whose  excellent  majesty, 
Whose  glory  virtue  is,  is  omnipresent ; 
No  being,  once  created  rational, 
Accountable,  endowed  with  moral  sense. 
With  sapience  of  right  and  wrong  endowed, 
And  charged,  however  fallen,  debased,  destroyed  ; 
However  lost,  forlorn,  and  miserable  ; 
In  guilt's  dark  shrouding  wrapt  however  thick; 
However  drunk,  delirious,  and  mad, 
With  sin's  full  cup  ;  and  with  whatever  damned 
Unnatural  diligence  it  work  and  toil. 
Can  banish  virtue  from  its  s-ght,  or  once 
Forget  that  she  is  fair.     Hides  it  in  night, 
In  central  night  ;  lakes  it  the  lightning's  wing. 
And  flies  forever  on  beyond  the  bounds 
Of  all ;  drinks  it  the  maddest  cup  of  sin  ; 
Dives  it  beneath  the  ocean  of  despair  ; 
It  dives,  it  drinks,  it  llies,  it  hides  in  vain. 
For  still  the  eternal  beauty,  image  fair, 
Once  stampt  upon  the  soul,  before  the  eye 
All  lovely  stands,  nor  will  depart ;  so  God 
Ordains — and  lovely  to  the  worst  she  seems, 


BOOK  I.  2S 

And  ever  seems  ;  and  as  they  look,  and  still 
Must  ever  look  upon  her  loveliness, 
Rennembrance  dire  of  vfbat  lliey  were,  of  what 
They  might  have  been,  and  bitter  sense  of  what 
They  are,  polluted,  ruined,  hopeless,  lost, 
With  raost  repenting  torment  rend  their  hearts. 
So  God  ordains — their  punishment  severe, 
Eternally  inflicted  by  themselves. 
Tis  this— this  Virtue  hovering  evermore 
Before  the  vision  of  the  damned,  and  in 
Upon  their  monstrous  moral  nakedness 
Casting  unwelcome  light,  that  makes  their  wo, 
That  makes  the  essence  of  the  endless  flame  : 
Where  this  is,  there  is  Hell — darker  than  aught 
That  he,  the  bard  three-visioned,  darkest  saw. 

The  place  thou  saw'et  was  hell ;   the  groans  thou 
heard'st 
The  wailings  of  the  damned — of  those  who  would 
Not  be  redeemed — and  at  the  judgment  day. 
Long  past,  for  unrepented  sins  were  damned. 
The  seven  loud  thunders  which  thou  heard'st,  declare 
The  eternal  wrath  of  the  Almighty  God. 
But  whence,  or  why  they  came  to  dwell  in  wo, 
Why  they  curse  God,  what  means  the  glorious  mom 
Of  Resurrection, — these  a  longer  tale 
Demand,  and  lead  the  mournful  lyre  far  hack 
Thro'  memory  of  Sin,  and  mortal  man. 
Yet  haply  not  rewardless  we  shall  trace 
The  dark  disastrous  years  of  finished  Time  : 
Sorrows  remembered  sweeten  present  joy. 
Nor  yet  shall  all  be  sad  ;  for  God  gave  peace, 
Much  peace,  on  earth,  to  all  who  feared  his  name. 

But  first  it  needs  to  say,  that  other  style, 
And  other  langiiage  than  thy  ear  is  wont, 
Thou  must  expect  to  hear — the  dialect 
Of  man  ;  for  each  in  heaven  a  relish  holds 
Of  former  speech  that  points  to  whence  he  came. 


34  THE  COXJRSE  OF  TIME. 

But  whether  I  of  person  speak,  or  place  ; 

Event  or  action  ;  moral  or  divine  ; 

Or  things  unknown  compare  to  things  unknown  ; 

Allude,  impljKj  susgest,  apostrophize  ; 

Or  touch,  when  wandering  thro'  the  past,  on  moods 

Of  mind  thou  never  felt'st  (he  meaning  still, 

With  easy  apprehension,  thou  shalt  take  ; 

So  perfect  here  is  knowledge,  and  the  strings 

Of  sympathy  so  tuned,  that  every  word 

That  each  to  other  speaks,  tho'  never  heard 

Before,  at  once  is  fully  understood, 

And  every  feeling  uttered,  fully  felt. 

So  shalt  thou  find,  as  from  my  various  song. 
That  backward  rolls  o'er  many  a  tide  of  years, 
Directly  or  inferred,  thy  asking,  thou, 
And  wondering  doubt,  shalt  leani  to  answer,  while 
1  sketch  in  brief  the  history  of  Man. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  II. 

A  description  of  the  earth  when  first  created  ;  and 
the  formation  of  man  ;  a  reasonable  free  ajent,  up- 
right and  immortal.  The  command  given  was  a 
test  of  filial  love,  loyalty,  obedience  and  faith.  The 
temptation,  sin  and  fall  of  man,  and  redemption 
from  death  by  the  death  of  Christ.  Many  would 
not  accept  the  free  oSfer  of  life  and  salvafion,  and 
in  oinsequence,  incurred  the  punishment  of  the 
second  death  and  hell. — That  they  acted  thus,  and 
thus  perversely  chose,  well  assured  of  the  conse- 
quence, by  the  information  contained  and  given 
them  in  the  Bible  ;  which  was  a  code  of  laws,  con- 
taining the  will  of  heaven,  and  defined  the  bounds 
of  vice  and  virtue,  and  of  life  and  death.  Mankiol 
were  required  to  read,  believe,  and  obey,  and  al- 
though many  did  so  believe,  and  were  saved,  yet 
many  turned  the  truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  transfonn- 
inz  the  meaning  of  the  text  to  suit  their  own  vile 
and  wicked  purposes,  deceiving  and  deceived. — 
That  (he  voice  of  God,  against  which  nothing  could 
bribe  to  sleep  the  truths  of  Judgment,  and  a  Judge, 
caused  the  wicked  to  be  ill  at  ease:  on  which  ac- 
count many  ran  into  impious  idolatry,  and  wor- 
shiped ten  thousand  deiiies,  imagined  worse  than  he 
who  craved  their  peace. 

The  Magistrate  often  turned  religion  info  a  trick  of 
state,  despising  the  truth,  and  forcing  the  consciences 
of  men:  while  the  enslaved  mimicking  the  follies 
of  the  great,  despised  her  too.  The  other  infiuen- 
ces  which  led  to  error,  are  mentioned  ;  short 
sighted  reason,  vanity,  indolence,  and  finally  pride, 
self  adorning  pride  was  primal  cause  of  all  sin  past, 
all  pain,  all  wo  to  come. 


THE 

BOOK  II. 


A  HUS  said,  he  waked  the  folden  harp,  and  thus, 
While  on  dim  inspiration  breathed,  began. 

As  from  yon  everlasting  hills,  that  gird 
Heaven  northward,  I  thy  course  espied,  I  judge 
Thou  from  the  Arctic  regions  came  ?    Perhaps 
Thou  noticed  on  thy  way  a  little  orb, 
Attended  by  one  moon— her  lamp  by  night ; 
With  her  fair  sisterhood  of  plane;s  seven, 
Revolving  round  their  central  sun  ;  she  third 
!n  place,  in  magnitude  the  fourth  ;  that  orb- 
New  made,  new  named,  inhabited  anew, 
(Tho'  whiles  we  sons  of  Adam  visit  still. 
Our  native  place  ;  not  changed  so  far  but  we 
Can  trace  our  ancient  walks — the  scenery 
Of  childhood,  youth,  and  prime,  and  hoary  age- 
But  scenery  most  of  suflFering  and  wo,) 
That  little  orb,  in  days  remote  of  old, 
When  angels  yet  were  young,  was  made  for  man, 
And  titled  Earth — her  primal  virgin  name  ; 
Created  first  so  lovely,  so  adorned 
With  hill,  and  lawn,  and  winding  vale  ; 
Woodland  and  stream,  and  lake,  and  rolling  seas  ; 
Green  mead  and  fruitful  tree,  and  fertile  grain, 
And  herb  and  flower  :  So  lovely,  so  adorned 
With  numerous  beasts  of  every  kind,  with  fowl 


28  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Uf  every  wing  and  every  tuneful  note  ; 

And  with  all  fish  that  in  the  multitude 

Of  waters  swam  :  so  lovely,  so  adorned, 

So  fit  a  dwellin?  place  for  man,  that  as 

She  rose  complete  at  the  creating  word. 

The  morning  stars — the  Sons  of  God,  aloud 

Shouted  for  joy  ;  and  God  beholding,  e.iw 

The  fair  design,  that  from  eternity 

His  mind  conceived,  accomplished,  and,  well  pleased, 

His  six  days  finished  work  most  good  pronounced, 

And  man  declared  the  sovereign  prince  of  all. 

All  else  was  prone,  irrational,  and  mute. 
And  unaccountable,  by  instinct  led  : 
But  man  He  made  of  angel  form  erect, 
To  hold  communion  with  the  heavens  above. 
And  on  his  soul  impressed  His  image  fair, 
His  own  similitude  of  holiness, 
Of  virtue,  truth,  and  love  ;  with  reason  high 
To  balance  right  and  ivrong,  and  conscience  quick, 
To  choose  or  to  reject ;  vvitb  knowledge  great, 
Prudence  and  wisdom,  vigilance  and  strength, 
To  guard  all  force  or  guile  ;  and  last  of  all, 
The  highest  gift  of  God's  abundant  grace. 
With  perfect^  free,  unbiassed  wilf,,-  Thus  man 
Was  made  upright,  immortal  made,  and  crowned 
The  king  of  all  ;  to  tat,  to  drink,  to  do 
Freely  and  sovereignly  his  will  entire  : 
By  one  command  alone  restrained,  to  prove. 
As  was  most  just,  his  filial  love,  sincere, 
His  loyalty,  obedience  due,  and  faith. 
And  thus  the  prohibition  ran,  expressed, 
M  God  is  wont,  in  terms  of  plaiitest  truth. 

Of  every  tree  that  in  the  garden  grows 
Thou  mayest  freely  eat ;  but  o(  the  tree 
That  knowledge  hath  of  good  and  ill,  eat  not, 
Nor  touch  ;  for  in  the  day  thou  eatest,  thou 
Shalt  die.    Go,  and  this  one  conuiiajid  obey 


Adam,  live  and  be  hippy,  and,  with  thy  Eve, 
Fit  consort,  multiply  and  fill  the  earth. 

Thus  they,  the  representatives  of  men, 
Were  placaJ  in  Eden — choicest  spot  of  Earth  ; 
With  royal  honor  and  with  glory  crowned, 
Adam,  the  lord  of  all,  majestic  waited. 
With  eodlike  countenance  sublime,  and  form 
Of  lofty  towerin?  strength  ;  and  bv  his  side 
Eve.  fair  as  momin?  star,  with  modesty 
Arrayed,  with  virtue,  grace,  and  perfect  Jove  ; 
In  holy  marriage  wed,  and  eloquent 
Of  thought  and  comely  words,  to  worship  God 
And  sing  his  praise — the  siver  of  all  good. 
Glad,  in  each  other  glad,  and  glad  in  hope  ; 
Rejoicing  in  their  future  happy  race. 

0  lovely,  happy,  tfilifc'imnr.ortal  pair  ! 
Pleased  with  the  present,  full  of  glorious  hope. 
But  short,  alas,  the  song  that  sings  their  bliss  I 
Henceforth  the  historj'  of  man  grows  dark  : 
Shade  after  shade  of  deepening  g'oom  descends 
And  Innocence  laments  her  robes  defiled. 
Who  farther  sings  must  change  the  pleasant  lyre 
To  heavy  notes  of  wo.     Why— dcst  thou  ask, 
Surprised  ?    The  answer  will  surprise  thee  more. 
Man  sinned — •emp'ed,  be  ate  the  guarded  tree, 
Tempted  of  whom  thou  afterward  shall  hear  ; 
Audacious,  unbelieving,  proud,  unirateful, 
He  ate  the  interdicted  fruit,  and  fell  ; 
And  in  his  fall,  his  universal  race  ; 
For  they  in  him  by  Helesration  were. 
In  him  to  stand  or  fail — to  live  or  die. 

Man  most  ingrate  !  so  full  of  grace  to  sin — 
Here  interposed  the  new  arrived— so  full 
<W  bliss — to  sin  against  the  Gracious  One  ! 
The  holy,  just,  and  good  '.  the  E'emal  Love  ! 
I'useen.  unheard,  urthnught  of  wickedness ! 


30  THE  COURSE  OF  TIAJE. 

Why  slumbered  vengeance  ?    No,  it  slumbered   not 
The  ever  just  and  righteous  God  would  let 
His  fury  loose,  and  satisfy  his  threat. 

That  had  been  just,  replied  the  reverend  bard  ; 
But  done,  fair  youth,  thou  ue'er  had'st  naet  me  here  : 
I  ne'er  had  seen  yon  glorious  throne  in  peace. 

Thy  powers  are  great,  originally  great ; 
And  purified  even  at  the  fount  of  light. 
Exert  them  now  ;  call  all  their  vigor  out ; 
Take  room  ;  think  vastly  ;  meditate  intensely  ; 
Reason  profoundly  ;  send  conjecture  forth  ;    ■. 
Let  fancy  fly  ;  stoop  down  ;  ascend  ;  all  length. 
All  breadth  explore  ;  all  moral,  all  divine  ; 
Ask  prudence,  justice,  mercy  ask,  and  might ; 
Weigh  good  with  evil,  balance  right  with  wrong, 
Wjlh  virtue  vice  compare — hatred  with  love  ; 
God's  holiness,  God's  justice,  and  God's  truth, 
neliberately  and  cautiously  compare 
With  sinful,  wicked,  vile,  rebellious  man. 
And  see  if  thou  can'st  punish  sin,  and  let 
Mankind  go  free.     Thou  fail'st — be  not  snrpriz'd 
I  bade  thee  search  in  vain.    Eternal  love — 
Harp  lift  thy  voice  on  high— Eternal  love. 
Eternal,  sovereign  love,  and  sovereign  grace, 
Wisdom,  and  power,  and  mercy  infinite, 
The  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  God, 
Devised  the  wondrous  plan — devised,  achieved  ; 
And  in  achieving  made  the  marvel  more. 
Attend,  ye  heavens  !  ye  heaven  of  heivens,  attend  '. 
Attend,  and  wonder  !  wonder  evermore  ! 
When  man  had  fallen,  rebelled,  insultet'  God  ; 
Was  most  polluted,  yet  most  madly  proud  ; 
Indebted  infinitely,  yet  most  poor ; 
Cap'ive  to  sin,  yet  unwilling  to  be  bound  ; 
To'God's  incensed  justice  and  hot  wrath 
Exposed  ;  due  victim  of  eternal  death 
And  utter  wo— Harp  lift  thy  voice  on  hi^h  1 


BOOK  II.  31 

Te  everlasting  Hills  !— ye  angels  bow  ! 
Bow  ye  redeemed  of  men  !  God  was  made  flesh, 
And  dwelt  with  man  on  earth  !  the  Son  of  God, 
Only  begotten,  and  well  beloved,  between 
Men  and  his  Father's  justice  interposed  ; 
Put  human  nature  on  :  His  wrath  sustained  ; 
And  in  Iheir  name  suffered,  obeyed,  and  died, 
3Iaking  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin  ; 
Jnst  for  unjust  and  innocence  for  gnilt, 
By  doing,  suffering,  dying  unconstrained, 
Save  by  omnipotence  of  boundless  grace, 
Complete  atonement  made  to  God  appeased  ; 
Made  honorable  his  insulted  law, 
Turning  the  wrath  aside  from  pardoned  man. 
Thus  Truth  with  Mercy  met,  and  Righteousneag, 
Stooping  from  highest  heaven,  embraced  fair  Peace, 
That  walked  the  earth  in  fellowship  with  Love. 

0  love  divine  !    0  mercy  infinite  ! 
The  audience  here  in  glowing  rapture  broke — 
0  love,  all  height  above,  all  depth  below. 
Surpassing  far  all  knowledge,  all  desire, 
All  thoueht,  the  Holy  One  for  sinners  dies  I 
The  Lord  of  life  for  guilty  rebels  bleeds— 
Quenches  eternal  fire  with  blood  divine. 
Abundant  mercy  !  overflowing  grace  ! 
There  whence  I  came,  I  something  heard  of  men  ; 
Their  name  had  reached  us,  and  report  did  speak 
Of  some  abominable  horrid  thing 
Of  desperate  oflence  they  had  committed  ; 
And  something  too  of  wondrous  grace  we  heard  j 
And  oft  of  our  celestial  visitants 
What  man,  what  God  had  done,  inquired  ;    but  they 
Forbid,  our  asking  ne^gr  met  directly, 
Exhorting  still  to  persevere  uprisht. 
And  we  should  hear  in  heaven,  Iho'  greatly  blest 
Ourselves,  new  wonders  of  God's  wondrous  love. 
This  hinting,  keener  appetite  to  know 
Awaked  ;  and  as  we  talked,  and  much  admired 


S2  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

What  new  we  tbere  should  learn,  we  hasted  each 

To  nourish  virtue  to  perfect 'on  up, 

T'hat  we  might  have  our  woiiderins;  resolved, 

And  leave  of  louder  praise,  to  greater  deeds 

Of  loving  kindness  due.     Mysterious  love  ! 

God  Wis  made  flesh,  and  d^velt  with  men  on  earth  ! 

Blood  holy,  blood  divine  for  sinners  shed — 

My  asking  ends— but  makes  my  wonder  more. 

Saviour  of  men  !  henceforth  be  thou  my  theme  ! 

Redeeminf  love,  my  study  day  and  night  ! 

Mankind  werelost,'aU  lost,  and  alfredeemed  ! 

Thou  crr'st  again — but  innocently  err'st  ; 
Not  knowing  siu's  depravity,  nor  m'an's 
Sincere  and  persevering  wickedness. 
All  were  redeemed  ?  not  ^H— or  thou  had'gt  heard 
No  human  voice  in  hell.     Miny  refused, 
Altho'  beseeched,  refused  to  br  redeemed  ; 
Redeemed  from  death  to  life,  from  wo  to  bliss  ! 

Can'st  thou  lielieve  my  song  when  thus  I  sing  ? 
When  man  hid  fallen,  was  ruined,  hopeless,  lost ; 
Ve  choral  harps  !  ye  aneels  that  excel 
In  strength  !  and  loudesf,  ye  redeemed  of  men  ! 
To  God — to  Him  that  sits  upon  the  throne 
On  high,  and  to  the  Lamb  sing  honor,  sing 
Dominion,  glory  ;  blessing  siiig,  and  praise: 
When  roan  had' fallen,  was  ruined,  hopeless,  lost, 
Messiah,  Prince  of  peace,  Eternal  King. 
Died,  that  the  dead  might  live,  the  lost  be  saved. 
Wonder,  0,  heavens  !  and  be  astonished,  earth  ! 
Thou  ancient,  thou  forgotien  earth  !  Ye  worlds  admire! 
Admire,  and  be  confounded  !  and  thou.  Hell  I 
Deepen  thy  eternal  groan — men  would  not  be 
Redeemed — I  speak  of  many,  not  of  all — 
Would  not  be  saved  for  lost',  have  life  for  death  : 

Mysterious  song  !  the  new  arrived  exclaiineil  ; 
Mysterious  mercv  !  most  mysterious  hale  1 


BOOK  u.  3a 

To  disobey  was  mad,  this  madder  far, 
Incurable'insanity  of  will. 
What  now  but  wrath  could  gniliy  men  expect  ? 
Wbat  more  could  love,  what  more  could  mercy  do  ? 

No  more,  resumed  the  bp.H,  no  more  they  could  ; 
Thou  hast  seen  hell — the  wicked  there  lament ; 
And  why  ?  for  love  and  mercy  twice  despised  ; 
The  husbandman,  who  sluggishly  forgot 
In  spring  to  plow,  and  sow,  could  censure  none. 
Though  winter  clamored  round  his  empty  barns  ; 
But  he  »vho  having  thus  neglected,  did 
.Refuse,  when  Autumn  came,  and  famine  threatened, 
Yo  reap  the  golden  field  that  charity 
Bestowed — Nay,  more  obdurate,  proud,  and  blind, 
And  stupid  stili,  refused,  tho'  much  beseeched, 
And  long  entreated,  even  with  Mercy's  tears. 
To  eat  what  to  his  verj'  lips  was  held 
Cooked  temptingly — he  certainly,  at  least, 
Deserved  to  die  of  hunger  unbemoaned. 
So  did  the  wicked  spurn  the  grace  of  God  ; 
And  so  were  punished  with  the  second  death. 
The  first,  no  doubt,  punition  less  severe 
Intended,  death  belike  of  all  entire  ; 
But  this' incurred,  by  God  discharged,  and  life 
Freely  again  presenied,  and  again  despised, 
Despised,  iho'  bffQght  with  m"ercy's  proper  blood — 
'Twas  this  dug  helf,  and  kindled  all  its  bounds 
With  wrath  and  inextinguishable  fire. 

Free  was  the  offer,  free  to  all,  of  life 
And  of  salvation  ;  but  the  proud  of  heart. 
Because  'twas  free,  would  not  accept  ;  and  still 
To  merit  wished  ;  and  choosing— thus  unsbi-pped, 
Uncompassed,  unprovisioced,  and  bestormed, 
To  swim  a  sea  of  breadth  immeasurable. 
They  scorned  the  goo  I  ly  bark,  whose  wings  the  breath 
Of  God's  eternal  Spirit  filled  for  heaven, 
S'hPt  slopped  to  take  (hem  in— and  so  were  lost. 
C 


34  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

What  wondera  dosf  thou  fell  ?  to  merit,  how  ? 
Of  creature  meritin?  in  si?tit  of  God, 
As  rijht  of  service  done,  1  never  heard 
Till  now:  we  never  fell  ;  in  virtue  stood 
Upright,  and  persevered  in  holiness  ; 
But  stood  bv  erace,  by  grace  we  persevered  ; 
Ourselves,  our  deeds,  our  holiest,  highest  deeds 
Unworthy  aujht— grace  worthy  endless  praise. 
If  we  fly  swift,  obedient  to  his  will. 
He  gives  us  wings  to  fly  ;  if  we  resist- 
Temptation,  and  ne'er  fall,  it  is  his  shield 
Omnipotent  that  wards  it  off;  if  we. 
With  love  unquenchable,  before  him  burn, 
'Tis  he  that  lights  and  keeps  alive  the  fiarae. 
Men  surely  lost  their  reason  in  their  fail, 
And  did  not  undersiaud  the  offer  made. 

They  might  have  understood,  the  bard  replied— 
They  had  the  Bible— hast  thou  ever  heard 
Of  such  a  book  ?  lbs  author  God  himself  ; 
The  subject  God  and  man  ;  salvation,  life 
And  death— eternal  life,  eternal  death- 
Bread  words !  whose  meaning  has  no  end,  no  bounds. 
Most  wondrous  book  !  brisht  candle  of  the  Lord  ! 
Star  of  eternity  !  the  only  star 
By  which  the  bark  of  man  could  navigate 
The  sea  of  life,  and  gain  the  coast  of  bliss 
Securely  ;  only  star  which  rose  on  Time, 
And,  on  its  dark  and  troubled  billows,  still. 
As  generation  drifting  swiftly  by 
Succeeded  generation,  threw  a  ray 
Of  heaven's  uwn  lisht,  and  to  the  hilIs<of  God, 
The  everlasting  hills,  pointed  the  sinner's  eye  : 
Bv  prophets,  seers,  and  priests,  and  sacred  bards, 
Evangelists,  apostles,  men  inspired. 
And  by  the  Holy  Ghost  anomted,  set 
Apart  and  consecrated  to  declare 
To  earth  the  counsels  of  the  Eternal  One, 
This  book— thiS  holiest,  this  sublimes!  book. 


Was  sent— Heaven's  will,  Heaven's  code  of  laws 

'entire 
To  man,  this  book  contained  ;  defined  the  bounds 
Of  vice  and  virtue,  and  of  life  and  death  ; 
And  what  was  shadow,  what  f^3S  substance  taught. 
*Much  it  revealed  ;  iniportant  ail  :  the  least 
Worth  more  tl  an  what  else  se-nied  of  highest  worth 
But  this  of  plainest,  most  essential  truth — 
That  God  is  one,  e-enial,  holy,  just, 
Ornnipolenl,  omniscient,  infinite ; 
Most  wise.  Diost  ?ocd,  most  merciful  and  tme  ; 
In  all  perfection  most  unchangeable  : 
That  man — that  every  man  of  every  clime 
And  hue,  of  every  aee,  and  every  rank, 
Was  bad — by  na'ure  and  by  practice  bad  ; 
In  unders'anding  blind,  in  will  perverse, 
In  heart  corrupt  ;  in  every  thought,  and  word, 
Imagination.  T:?i-=i'r;,  and  desire, 
Most  urterly  ilep:av;ii  lhrr:uehout,  and  ill. 
In  sight  of  Heaven,  tho'  less  in  sight  of  man, 
At  enmity  with  God  hU  maker  brmf 
And  by  bis  ver>'  life  an  heir  cf  death  : 
That  man — that  every  man  w.-.s  fartSier,  most 
Unable  to  redeem  himself,  or  pay 
Dne  mite  <'f  bis  vast  debt  to  God-v-nay,  more. 
Was  most  reluctant  ai.d  averse  toHje 
Redeemed,  and  sin's  most  voluntary  slave  ; 
T  hatJes'js,  Son  of  God.  of  Mary  bom 
In  Bethlehem,  and  by  Pilate  crucified 
On  Calvary — for  man  'hus  fallen  and  lost. 
Died  :  and.  hv  dsath.  life  and  salvation  bouebt, 
And  perfect  riilstebisnes?,  for  all  who  should 
In  his  great  name  believe— ihat  He,  the  third' 
In  the  eternal  EiSence,  to  -he  prayer 
Sincere  shoirii^  crmt.  shoul  J  come  as  soon  as  afked, 
'Proceeding  fronj  the  Father  and  the  Son. 
<ro  ?ive  faith  and  repentance,  such  as  God 
Accepts— to  open  the  intellectual  eves 
Blinded  by  sio  ;  (o  bend  the  stubborn  will, 
C2 


•56  THE  COURSE  OF  TLME. 

Perversely  to  the  side  of  wron?  inclined,  -T 
To  God  and  his  commindraenis,  just  and  good ; 
The  wild,  rebellious  passions  to  subdue, 
And  bring  them  back  to  haroiony  with  heaven  ; 
To  purifv  the  conscience,  and  to  lead 
The  mind  into  all  truth,  and  to  adoru 
With  every  holy  ornament  of  ftrace, 
And  sanctify  the  whole  renewed  soul, 
Which  henceforth  might  no  more  fall  totally 
But  persevere,  though  erring  oft,  amidst 
The  mists  of  time,  in  piety  to  God, 
And  sacred  works  of  chirity  to  men  ; 
That  he,  who  thus  believed,  and  practised  thus, 
Should  have  his  sins  forgiven,  however  vile  ; 
Should  be  sust;iined  at  mid-day,  morn,  and  even, 
By  God's  omnipotent,  eternal  grace  :  / 
And  in  the  evil  hour  of  sore  disease. 
Temptation,  pi-raccution,  war,  and  de«th. 
For  temporal  death,  allho'unstinged,  remained, 
Beneath  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty's  wings 
Should  sit  unhurt,  and  at  the  judgment  day, 
Should  share  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 
And  reign  with  Christ  in  bliss  forevermore  : 
That  all,  however  named,  however  great, 
Who  would  not  thus  believe,  nor  practise  thus. 
But  in  their  sins  impenit«nt  remained, 
Should  in  perpttual  fear  and  terror  live ; 
Should  die  unpardoned,  unredeemed,  unsaved; 
And  at  the  hour  of  doom,  should  be  cast  out 
To  utter  darkness  in  the  night  of  hell. 
By  mercv  and  by  God  abandoned,  there 
To  reap  the  harvests  of  eternal  wo. 

This  did  that  book  declare  in  obvious  phrase, 
In  most  sincere  and  honest  words,  by  God 
Himself  selected  and  arranged  ;  so  clear, 
So  plain,  so  perfectl  f  distinct,  that  core 
Who  read  with  humble  wish  to  understand. 
And  asked  the  Spirit,  given  to  all  who  asked. 


Could  miss  their  meaniog^ blazed  in  heavenly  light. 

This  book — this  holy  book,  on  every  line 
Marked  with  the  seal  of  high  divinity  ; 
On  every  leaf  bedened  with  drops  of  love 
Divine,  and  with  the  eternal  heraldry 
And  sizcature  of  God  Almighty  stanipt 
From  first  to  last — this  ray  of  sacred   light, 
This  lamp,  from  off  the  everlasting  throne, 
Mercy  took  down,  and  in  the  night  of  Time 
Stood,  casting  on  the  dark  her  gracious  bow  j 
And  evermore  beseeching  men,  with  tears 
And  earnest  sighs,  to  read,  believe,  and  live  ; 
And  many  to  her  voice  gave  ear,  and  read, 
Believed,  obeyed  ;  and  now,  as  the  Amen, 
True,  Faithful  Witness  swore,  wilh  snowy  robes 
And  branchy  palms  surround  the  fount  of  life, 
And  drink  the  streams  of  immortality, 
For  ever  happy,  and  for  ever  young. 

Many  believed  ;  but  more  the  truth  of  God 
Turned  to  a  lie,  deceiving  and  deceived  ; — 
Each,  with  the  accursed  "sorcery  of  sin, 
To  his  own  wish  and  vile  propensity 
Transforming  still  the  meaning  of  the  text. 

Hear  !  while  I  briefly  tell  what  mortals  proved, 
By  effort  vast  of  ingenuity, 
Most  wondrous,  though  perverse  and  damnable  ; 
Proved  from  (he  Bible,  which,  as  ihou  hasl  beard, 
So  plainly  spoke  that  all  could  understand. 
First,  and  not  least  in  number,  argued  some. 
From  out  this  book  itself,  it  was  a  lie, 
A  fable  framed  by  crafty  men  to  cheat 
The  simple  herd,  and  make  them  bow  the  knee 
To  kinss  and  priests, — these  in  their  wisdom  left 
The  light  revealed,  and  turned  to  fancies  wild  ; 
Maintaining  loud,  that  ruined,  helpless  man, 
Needed  no  Saviour.    Others  proved  that  men 
C3 


33  THE  COURSE  OF  TIAIE. 

Might  live  and  die  in  singMd  yet  be  saved 

For  so  it  was  decreed  ;  ^Hng  (he  will, 

By  God  lefi  free,  to  unconditional. 

Unreasonable  fate.     Olhers  believed 

That  be  who  was  most  criminal,  debased, 

cSdemned,  and  dead,  unsideJ  might  ascend 

The  heights  of  Virtue  ;  to  a  perfect  law 

Giving  a  lame,  half-way  obedience,  which 

By  useless  effort  only  served  to  show 

The  impotence  of  him  who  vainly  strove 

With  finite  arm  to  measure  infinite  ; 

Most  useless  effort  '.  when  to  justify 

In  sight  of  God  it  meant,  as  proof  of  faith 

Most  acceptable,  and  worthy  of  all  praise. 

Another  held,  and  from  the  Bible  held, 

He  was  infallible,— most  fallen  by  such 

Pretence— that  none  the  Scriptures,  open  to  all, 

And  most  to  humble-hearted,  ought  to  read, 

But  priests ;  that  all  who  ventured  to  disclaim 

His  forged  authority,  incurred  the  wralli 

Of  Heaven  ;  and  he  who,  in  the  blood  of  such, 

Though  fa'her,  mother,  daughter,  wife,  or  sou, 

Imbrued  his  hands,  did  most  religious  work, 

Well  pleasing  to  the  heart  of  the  Most  High. 

Others,  in  outward  rite,  devotion  placed  ; 

Id  meats,  in  drinks  ;  in  robe  of  certain  shape — 

In  bodily  abasements,  bended  knees  ; 

Davs,  numbers,  j-.laccs,  vestments,  words, and  names— 

Absurdly  in  their  hearts  imagining, 

That  God.  like  nieny  was  pleased  w  ith  outward  show. 

Another,  stranger  and  more  wicked  s'ill, 

With  dark  and  dolorous  labor,  ill  appi  ed. 

With  many  a  gripe  of  conscience,  and  with  most 

Unhealthy  and  abirtive  reasoning. 

That  brounht  his  sanity  to  serious  doubt, 

Mong  wise  aud  honest  men,  maintained  that  He, 

First  Wisdom,  Great  Messiah,  Prince  of  Feice, 

The  second  of  the  uncreated  Three, 

Was  naught  bnl  man— of  e;irlbly  origin  ; 


Thus  makiog  void  the  aacufice  Divine. 
And  leaving  guilty  men,  C^^  holy  law 
Still  unatoned,  to  work  them  endless  death. 

These  are  a  part  ;  but  to  relate  thee  ail 
The  monstrous,  uIl^aptized  phantasies,  9 

Imagina'ions  fearfully  absurd. 
Hob-goblin  riles,  and  moon-slruck  reveries, 
Distracted  creeds  and  visionary  dreams, 
More  bodiless  and  hideously  misshapea 
Than  ever  fancy,  at  the  noon  of  night, 
Playing  at  will,  framed  in  the  roadman's  brain. 
That  from  this  book  of  simple  truth  were  proved. 
Were  proved,  as  foolish  men  were  wont  to  prove — 
Would  brinj  my  word  in  doubt,  and  thy  belief 
Stagger,  though  here  I  sit  and  sing,  within 
The  pale  of  truth,  where  falsehood  n»ver  came. 

The  rest,  who  tost  the  heavenly  light  revealed, 
Not  wishing  lo  retain  God  in  their  minds, 
In  darkness  wandered  on  :  yet  could  they  not. 
Though  moral  night  around  them  drew  her  pall 
Of  blackness,  restin  utter  unbelief. 
The  voice  within,  the  voice  of  God.  that  naught 
Could  bribe  to  sleep,  though  steeped  in  sorceries 
Of  Heli,  and  much  abused  by  whisperings 
Of  Evil  Spirits  in  the  dark,  announced 
A  day  of  judgment,  and  a  judge, — a  day 
Of  misery,  or  bliss  ; — and  being  ill 
At  ease,  for  eods  they  chose  them,  stocks  and  stones. 
Reptiles,  and  weeds,  and  beasts,  and   creeping  things, 
And  Spirils  accursed — ten  thousand  Deities  1 
(Imagined  worse  than  lie  who  cravc-d  their  peace,) 
And  bowing,  worshipped  these  as  best  beseemed, 
With  midnight  revelry  obscene  and  loud, 
With  dark,  infernal,  devilish  ceremonies, 
And  horrid  sacrifice  of  human  flesh. 
That  made  the  fair  heavens  blush.    So  bad  was  sia. 
So  lost,  so  mined,  so  depraved  was  inan  : — 


40  THE  COURSE  OF  TLME. 

Created  first  in  God's  own  image  fair  ! 

Oh,  cursed,  cursed,  sin  !  traitor  to  God, 
And  rniner  of  man  !  mother  of  Wo, 
And  Death,  and  Hell, — wretched,  yet  seeking  worse ; 
Polluted  most,  yet  wallowing  in  the  mire  ; 
Most  mad,  yet  drinking  Frenzy's  giddy  cup  ; 
Depth  ever  deepening,  darkness  darkening  still  ; 
Folly  for  wisdom,  guTlt  for  innocence  ; 
Anguish  for  rapture,  and  for  hope  despair  ; 
Destroyed  destroying  ;  in  tormenting  pained  j 
Unawed  by  wralh  ;  by  mercy  unreclaimed  ; 
Thing  most  unsightly,'  most  forlorn,  most  sad — 
Thy  time  on  earth  is' past,  thy  war  with  God 
And  holiness  :  but  who,  oh  who  shall  teJl, 
Thy  unrepenlable  and  ruinous  thoughts  ? 
Thy  sighs,  thy  groans  ?    Who  reckon  thy  burning 

tears. 
And  damned  looks  of  everlasting  grief, 
Wliere  now,  with  those  who  took  their  part  with  thee. 
Thou  sitt'st  in  Hell,  gnawed  by  the  eternal  Worm- 
To  hurt  no  more,  onfall  the  holy  hills  ? 

That  those,  deserting  once  the  lamp  of  trnth. 
Should  wander  ever  on,  from  worse  to  worse 
Krroneously  thy  wonder  needs  not  ask  : 
But  that  enlightened,  reasonable  men, 
Knowing  themselves  accountalile,  to  whom 
God  spoke  from  heaven,  and  by  his  servants  warned. 
Both  day  and  night,  with  earnest,  pleading  voice. 
Of  retribution  equal  to  their  wo"ks. 
Should  persevere  in  evil,  sud  be  lost — 
This  strangeness,  this  unpardonable  guilt. 
Demands  an  answer,  which  my  song"  unfold* 
In  part  directly,  but  hereafter  'more, 
To  satisfy  thy'wonder,  thou  shalt  learn. 
Inferring  much  from  what  is  yet  to  sing. 

Know  then,  of  men  who  sat  in  highest  place 


B(X>KIL 

Kxalted,  and  for  sin  by  others  done 
Were  chargeable,  the'king  and  priest  were  chief. 
Many  were  faithfui,  holy,  just,  upright, 
Faithful  to  God  and  man — reigning  renowned 
In  righteousness,  and,  to  ibe  people,  loud 
And  fearless,  speaking  all  the  words  of  life. 
Ttiese  at  the  judgment-day,  as  thou  shalt  hear, 
Abundant  harvest  reaped ';  but  many  loo, 
Alas,  how  many  !  famous  now  in  Hell, 
Were  wicked,  cruel,  tyrannous  and  vile  ; 
Ambitious  of  themselves,  abandoned,  n/ad  ; 
And  still  from  servants  hasting  to  be  gods, 
Such  gods  as  now  they  serve  in  Erebus. 
I  pass  their  lewd  example  by,  that  led 
So  many  wrong,  for  courtly  fashion  lost, 
And  prove  them  guilty  of  one  crime  alone. 
Of  every  wicked  ruler,  prince  supieme, 
Or  magistrate  below,  the  one  intent, 
Purpose,  desire,  and  struggle  day  and  night, 
Was  evermore  to  wrest  the  crown  from  off 
Messiah's  head,  and  put  it  on  his  own  ; 
And  in  His  place  give  spiritual  laws  to  men  ; 
To  bind  religion — free  by  birth,  by  God, 
And  nature  free,  and  made  accountable 
To  none  but  God— behind  the  wheels  of  state  ; 
To  make  the  holy  altar,  where  the  Prince 
Of  life  incarnate  bled  to  ransom  man, 
A  footstool  to  the  throne  ;  for  this  they  met, 
Assembled,  counselled,  meditated,  planned, 
Devised  in  open  and  secret  ;  and  for  this 
Enacted  creeds  of  wondrous  texture,  creeds 
The  Bible  never  owned,  unsanctioned  too, 
And  reprobate  in  heaven  ;  but  by  the  power 
That  made,  (exerted  now  in  zentler  form, 
Monopolizing  rishts  and  privilejes. 
Equal  to  all,  and  waving  now  the  sword 
Of  persecution  fierce,  tempered  in  hell,) 
Forced  on  the  conscience  of  inferior  men 
The  conscience  that  sole  monarchy  in  mao, 


42  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Owing  alleeiance  to  no  earthly  prince  ; 
Made  by  Ibe  edict  of  creation  free  ; 
Made  sacred,  made  above  all  hiiOian  laws ; 
Holding  of  beaven  alone  ;  of  most  divine, 
And  indefeasible  autbority  ; 
An  individual  sovereignty,  that  none 
Created  might,  unpunished,  bind  or  touch  ; 
Unbound,  save  by  the  eternal  laws  of  God, 
And  unamenable  to  all  below. 

Thus  did  the  uncircamcised  potentates 
Of  earth  debase  religion  in  the  sight 
Of  those  they  ruled — who,  looking  up,  beheld 
The  fair  celestial  gift  despised,  enslaved  j 
And,  mimicking  the  folly  of  the  great, 
^Vith  prompt  docility  despised  her  too. 

The  prince  or  magistrate,  however  named 
Or  praised,  who  knowing  better,  acted  thus, 
Was  wicked,  and  received,  as  he  deserved, 
Daninalion.    But  the  unfaithful  priest,  whit  tongue 
Knoujli  shall  execrate  ?    His  doctrine  may 
Be  passed,  tho'  mixed  with  most  unhallowed  leaven, 
That  proved  to  those  who  foolishly  partook. 
Eternal  bitterness : — but  this  was  still 
His  sin — beneath  what  cloak  soever  veiled. 
His  ever  growing  and  perpetual  sin, 
First,  last,  and  middle  thought,  whence  every  wish, 
Whence  every  action  rose,  and  ended  both — 
To  n:ount  to  place  and  power  of  worldly  sort; 
To  ape  the  gaudy  pnmp  and  equipage 
Of  earthly  state,' and  on  his  milred  brow 
To  place  a  royal  crown  :  for  this  he  sold 
The  sacred  truth  to  him  who  most  would  give 
Of  titles,  benefices,  honors,  names  ; 
For  this  betrayed  his  masler  ;  and  for  this 
Made  merchandise  of  the  immortal  souls 
Comaiiited  to  his  care— this  was  his  lin. 


i500K  II. 

Of  all  who  office  held  unfairly,  none 
Could  plead  excuse  ;  he  least,  and  last  of  all. 
By  solemn,  awful  ceremony,  he 
Was  set  apart  to  speak  the  truth  entire, 
By  action  and  by  word  ;  and  round  him  stood 
The  people,  from  his  lips  expecting  knowledge  ] 
One  day  in  seven,  the  Holy  Sabbath  termed, 
They  stood  ;  for  he  had  sworn  in  face  of  Giad 
And  man,  to  deal  sincerely  with  their  souls  ; 
To  preach  the  gospel  for  the  gospel's  sake  ; 
Had  sworn  to  hate  and  put  away  all  pride, 
All  vanity,  all  love  of  earthly  pomp  ; 
To  seek  all  mercy,  meekness,  truth,  and  grace  ; 
And  being  so  endowed  himself,  and  taught, 
In  them  like  works  of  holiness  to  move  j 
Dividing  faithfully  the  word  of  life. 
And  oft  indeed  the  word  of  life  he  taught ; 
Eul  practisirii;,  as  thou  hast  heard,  who  could 
Believe  ?    Thus  was  religion  wounded  sore 
At  her  own  altars,  and  among  her  friends. 
The  people  went  away,  and  like  the  priest, 
Fulfilling  what  the  prophet  spoke  before, 
For  honor  strove,  anJ  wealth,  and  place,  a8  if 
The  preacher  had  rehearsed  an  idle  tale. 
Ttie  enemies  of  God  rejoiced,  and  loud 
The  unbeliever  laughed,  boasting  a  life 
Of  fairer  character  than  his,  who  owned, 
For  kiug  and  guide,  the  undefiled  One. 

Most  guilty,  villanous, dishonest  man  ! 
Wolf  in  the  clothing  of  the  gentle  lamb  ! 
Dark  traitor  in  Messiah's  holy  camp  ■ 
iC^p.er  in  saintly  garb  ! — assassin  masked 
In  Virtue's  robe  !  vile  hypocrite  accursed  ! 
I  strive  in  vain  to  set  his  evil  forth. 
The  words  that  should  sufficiently  accurse, 
And  execrate  such  reprobate,  had  need 
Come  glowing  from  the  lips  of  eldest  hell. 
Among  the  saldest  in  the  den  of  wo, 


44  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Thou  saw'st  him  saddest,  'moug   the  damned,  most 


But  why  should  I  with  iDdis:iiatioD  bum. 
Not  well  beseeming  here,  and'long  forgot  ? 
Or  why  one  censure  for  another's  sin  ? 
Each  had  his  conscience,  each  his  reason,  will, 
And  understanding,  for  himself  to  search, 
To  choose,  reject,  believe, consider,  act: 
And  God  proclaimed  from  heaven,  and  by  an  oath 
Confirmed,  that  each  should  answer  for  himself  ; 
And  as  his  own  peculiar  work  should  be, 
Tone  by  his  proper  self,  should  live,  or  die. 
But  sin,  deceitful  and  deceiving  still. 
Had  gained  the  heart,  and  reason  led  astray. 

A  strange  belief,  that  leaned  its  idiot  back 
On  folly's  topmost  twig— belief  that  God, 
Most  wise,  had  made  a  world,  had  creatures  made, 
Beneath  his  care  to  govern,  and  protect, — 
Devoured  its  thousands.     Reason,  not  the  true, 
Learned,  deep,  sober,  comprehensive,  sound  ; 
But  bigoted,  one-eyed,  sliort-sigh'ed  Reason, 
Most  zealous,  and  sometimes,  lio  doubt,  sincere — 
Devoured  its  thousands.     Vanity  to  be 
Renowned  for  creed  eccentrical — devoured 
Its  thousands  :  but  a  lazy,  corpulent. 
And  over-credulous  faith,  thai  leaned  on  all 
It  met,  nor  asked  if  'twas  a  reed  or  oak; 
Stepped  on,  but  never  earnestly  inquired 
Whether  to  heaven  or  hell  the  journey  led — 
Devoured  its  teiis  of  thousands,  and  i's  hands 
Made  reddest  in  the  precious  blood  of  souls. 

In  Time's  pursuits  men  ran  till  out  of  breath. 
The  astronomer  soared  up,  and  counted  stars. 
And  gazed,  and  eazed  upon  the  Heaven's  bright  face, 
Till  he  dropped  down  dim-eyed  into  the  grave  : 
The  numerisi  in  calotilations  deep 


BOOK  II. 

Grew  gray  :  the  merchant   at    his    desk  expired  : 

The  statesman  hunted  for  another  place, 

Till  death  o'ertook  him  and  made  him  his  prey  : 

The  miser  spent  his  eldest  enersy, 

In  grasping  for  another  mite  :  the  scribe 

Rubbed  pensively  his  old  and  withered  brow 

Devising  new  impediments  !o  hold 

In  doubt  the  suit  that  threatened  to  end  too  soon 

The  priest  collected  tithes,  and  pleaded  rights 

Of  decimation  to  the  very  last. 

In  science,  learning,  all  philosophy. 

Men  labored  all  their  days,  and  labored  hard. 

And  dying,  sighed  how  little  they  had  done  : 

But  in  religion  they  at  once  grew  wise. 

A  creed  in  print,  tho'  never  understood  ; 

A  theologic  system  on  the  shelf, 

Was  spiritual  lore  enough,  and  served  their  turn  ; 

But  served  it  ill.    They  sinned,  and  never  knew  ; 

For  what  the  Bible  said  of  good  and  bad, 

Of  holiness  and  sin,  they  never  asked. 

Absurd— prodigiously  absurd,  to  think 
That  man's  minute  and  feeble  faculties, 
Even  in  the  very  childhood  of  his  being, 
With  mortal  shadows  dimmed,  and  wrapt  around 
Could  comprehend  at  once  the  mighty  scheme, 
Where  rolled  the  ocean  of  eternal  love  ; 
Where  wisdom  infinite  its  master  stroke 
Displayed  ;  and  where  omnipotence,  opprest, 
Did  travel  in  the  greatness  of  its  strength  ; 
And  everlasting  justice  lifted  up 
The  sword  to  smite  the  guiltless  Son  of  God  ; 
And  mercy  smiling  bade  the  sinner  go  ! 
Redemption  is  the  science,  and  the  song 
Of  all  eternity  :  archangels  day 
And  night  into  its  glories  look  ;  the  saints, 
The  elders  round  I'lie  throne,  old  in  tJie  years 
Of  heaven,  examine  it  perpetually  ; 
And  every  hour,  get  clearer,  ampler  views 


46  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME 

Of  risfht  and  wTonz — see  virtue's  beauty  more; 
See  vice  more  utterly  depraved,  and  vile  ; 
And  this  wilh  a  more  perfect  hatred  hate  ; 
That  daily  love  with  a  more  perfect  love. 

But  whether  I  for  man's  perdition  blame 
Office  administered  amiss  :  pursuit 
Of  pleasure  false  ;  perverted  reason  blind  ; 
Or  indolence  that  oe'er  inquired  ;  I  blame 
Effect  and  consequence  :  Ihe  branch,  the  leaf. 
Who  finds  the  fount  and  bitter  root,  the  first 
And  guiltiest  cause  whence  sprung  this  endless  wo, 
Must  deep  descend  into  the  human  heart, 
And  find  it  there.    Dread  passion  !  making  men 
On  earth,  and  even  in  hell,  if  Mercy  yet 
Would  stoop  so  low,  unwilling  to  be  saved, 
If  saved  by  grace  of  God — Hear,  then,  in  brief, 
What  peopled  hell,  what  holds  its  prisoners  there. 

Pride,  self-adoring  pride,  was  primal  cause 
Of  all  sin  past,  all  pain,  all  wo  to  come. 
Unconquerable  pride  !  first,  eldest  sin — 
Great  foun'ain-head  of  evil— highest  source, 
Whence  flowed  rebellion  'gainst  the  Omnipotent, 
Whence  hate  of  man  to  man,  and  all  else  ill. 
Pride  at  the  bottom  of  the  human  heart 
Lay,  and  gave  root  and  nourishment  lo  all 
That  grew  above.     Great  ancestor  of  vice  ! 
Hale,  unbelief,  and  blasphemy  of  God  ; 
Envy  and  slander  ;  mil  ice  and  revenge  ; 
And  murder,  and  deceit,  and  every  birth 
Of  damned  sort,  was  progeny  of  pride. 
It  was  the  ever-moving,  acting  force. 
The  constant  aim,  and  the  most  thirsty  wish 
Of  every  sinner  unrenewed,  to  be 
A  god  :— in  purple  or  in  rags,  to  have 
Himself  adored  :  wha'ever~shape  or  form 
His  actions  took  :  whatever  phrase  he  threw 
About  his  thoughts,  or  mantle  o'er  his  life, 


BOOK  II.  47 

To  be  the  highest,  was  the  inward  cause 

Of  all— the  purpose  of  the  heart  to  be 

Set  up,  admired,  obeyed.     But  who  would  bow 

The  knee  to  one  who  served,  and  was  dependent  ? 

Hence  man's  perpetual  stru??le,  night  and  day, 

To  prove  he  was  his  own  proprietor, 

And  independent  of  his  God.  that  what 

He  had  mi?ht  be  esteemed  his  own.  and  praised 

As  such— He  laliored  still,  and  tried  to  stand 

Alone,  unpropped — to  be  obliged  to  none  ; 

And  in  the  madness  of  his  pride  he  bade 

His  God  farewell,  and  turned  away  to  be 

A  god  himself ;  resolving  to  rely. 

Whatever  came,  upon  his  own  right  hand. 

O  desperate  frenzy  !  madness  of  the  will  ! 
And  drunkenness  of  the  heart !    that  nought  coald 

quench 
But  floods  of  wo,  poured  from  the  sea  of  wrath, 
Behind  which  mercy  set.     To  think  to  turn 
The  back  on  life  original,  and  live — 
The  creature  to  set  up  a  rival  throne 
In  the  Creator's  realm— to  deify 
A  worm — and  in  the  sight  of  God  be  proud — 
To  lift  an  arm  of  flesh  against  the  shafts 
Of  the  Omnipotent,  and  midst  his  wrath 
To  seek  for  happiness — insanity 
Most  mad;  guilt  most  complete!  seest  thou  those  worlds 
That  roll  at  various  distance  round  the  throne 
Of  God.  innumerous,  and  fill  the  calm 
Of  heaven  with  sweetest  harmony,  when  saints 
And  angels  sleep — as  one  of  these,  from  love 
Centripetal  withdrawing,  and  from  light, 
And  heat,  and  nourishment  cut  off,  should  rush 
Abandoned  o'er  the  line  that  runs  between 
Create  and  increate  ;  from  ruin  driven 
To  ruin  still,  thro'  the  abortive  waste  :  « 

So  pride  from  God  drew  off  the  bad  ;  and  so 
Forsaken  of  him,  he  lets  them  ever  try 


48  THE  COURSE  OF  TIi\lE. 

Their  single  arm  against  the  second  death  ; 

Amidst  vindictive  thunders  lets  them  try 

The  stoutness  of  their  heart  ;  and  lets  them  try 

To  quench  their  thirst  amid  the  unfadin;  fire  ; 

And  to  reap  jny  where  he  has  sown  despair  : 

To  wall:  alone  unguided,  unbemoaned, 

Where  Evil  dwells,  and  Death,  and  moral  Night  j 

In  utter  emptiness  to  find  enough  ; 

In  utter  dark  find  light  ;  and  find  repose 

Where  God  with  tempest  plagues  for  evermore  : 

Vor  so  they  wished  it,  so  did  pride  desire. 

Such  was  the  cause  that  turned  so  many  off 
Rebelliously  from  God,  and  led  them  on 
From  vain  to  vainer  still,  in  endless  chase. 
And  such  the  cause  that  made  so  many  cheeks 
Pale,  and  so  many  knees  to  shake,  when  men 
Rose  from  the  grave :  as  thou  shall  hear  anon. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME, 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  HI. 

Id  this  book  the  bard  shows  that  however  men  diso- 
beyed the  command  to  love  God,  truth,  ana  virtue, 
they  still  strove  to  gain  happiness :  but  which 
could  only  be  gained  by  obedience  to  the  command, 
for  the  attainment  of  wbich  men  pursued  many 
strange  and  crooked  paths,  in  none  of  which  could 
it  be  found  ;  as  happiness  was  indissolubly  united 
to  virtue.  Yet  men  pursued  the  phantom  Hope, 
■which  danced  before  them  in  every  path,  and  ever 
mocked  their  grasp,  till  earth,  beneath  them,  broke 
and  wrapt  them  in  the  grave. 

IMany  sought  for  happiness  in  the  enjoyment  of  pleas- 
ures, but  it  ever  proved  vain,  in  hope,  or  in  pos- 
session. Many  sought  for  happiness  in  the  attain-' 
ment  of  riches.  This,  also,  mostly  ended  in  bitter- 
ness and  wo.  Many  pursued  the  phantom  Fame^ 
that  fame  which  raised  not  in  the  resurrection 
morn.  Earthly  fame,  but  all  in  vain.  Many  sought 
happiness  in  dissipation,  in  inebriation  ;  deliberate- 
ly resolving  to  be  mad  ;  some  in  hawking  and 
hunting,  some  in  the  search  after  curiosities,  and 
»ome  even  in  hopeless  scepticism  sought  happiness. 

And  thus  mankind  followed  vanities  in  despite  of  wis- 
dom's warning  voice  ;  in  despite  of  the  teaching 
of  all  animated  and  unanimated  nature  ;  in  despite 
of  the  offers  of  mercy  continually  held  out  to  them ; 
in  spite,  even,  of  the  threatenings  of  death,  to  make 
repentance  vain,  men  rushed  on  determined,to  ruin, 
and  shut  their  ears  to  all  advice,  to  all  reproof,  till 
death,  the  great  teacher,  convinced  each,  too  late, 
that  Eternity  is  all. 


otirse  of  ^imt. 

BOOK  III. 


Bb 


»EHOLD'ST  thou  yonder,   on  the  crystal  sea, 
Beneath  the  throne  of  God,  an  image  fair, 
And  in  its  hand  a  Ujirror  large  and  bright ! — 
'Tis  truth,  immutable,  eternal  truth, 
In  figure  emblematical  expressed. 
Before  it  Virtue  stands,  and  smiling  sees. 
Well  pleased,  in  her  reflected  soul,  no  spot. 
The  sons  of  heaven,  archangel,  seraph,  saint, 
There  daily  read  their  own  essential  worth  ; 
And  as  they  read,  take  place  among  the  just  ; 
Or  high,  or  low,  each  as  his  value  seems. 
There  each  his  certain  interest  learns,  bis  true 
Capacity  ;  and  going  thenee,  pursues. 
Unerringly  thro'  all  the  tracts  of  thought, 
As  God  ordadns,  best  ends  by  wisest  means. 

The  Bible  held  this  mirror's  place  on  earth ; 
But,  few  would  read,  or,  reading,  saw  themselves. 
The  chase  was  after  sbado\vs,  phantoms  strange, 
That  in  the  twilight  walked  of  Time,  and  mocked 
The  eager  hunt,  escaping  evermore  ; 
Yet  with  so  many  promises  and  looks 
Of  gentle  sort,  that  he  whose  arms  returned 
Empty  a  thousand  times,  still  stretched  them  out, 
And  grasping,  brought  them  back  again  uoililed. 

D2 


SH.  TH£  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

In  rapid  outline  thou  hast  heard  of  man  ; 
His  death ;  his  offered  life ;  that  life  by  most 
Despised ;  the  Slar  of  God — the  Bible,  scorned, 
That  else  to  happiness  and  heaven  had  led, 
And  saved  my  lyre  from  narrative  of  wo. 
Hear  now  more  largely  of  the  ways  of  Time; 
The  fond  pursuits  and  vanities  of  men. 

Love  God,  love  truth,  love  virtue,  and  be  happy ; 
These  were  the  words  first  uttered  in  the  ear 
Of  every  being  rational  made,  and  made 
For  thought,  or  word,  or  deed  accountable. 
Most  men  the  first  forgot,  the  second  none. 
Whatever  path  they  took,  by  hill  or  vale, 
By  night  or  day.  the  universal  wish, 
The  aim,  and  sole  intent,  was  happiness: 
But,  erring  from  the  heaven-appiinted  path, 
Strange  tracts  indeed  they  took  through  barren  wastes, 
And  up  the  sandy  mountain  climbing  toiled, 
Which  pining  lay  beneath  the  curse  of  God, 
And  naught  produced :  yet  did  the  traveller  look, 
And  point  bis  eye  before  him  greedily. 
As  if  he  saw  some  verdant  spot,  where  grew 
The  heavenly  flower,  where  sprung  the  well  of  life, 
Where  undisturbed  felicity  reposed  ; 
Though  Wisdom's  eye  no"  vestige  could  discern, 
That  happiness  had  ever  passed  that  way. 

Wisdom  was  right :  for  still  the  terms  remained 
Unchanged,  unchangeable ;  the  terms  on  which 
True  peace  was  given  to  man  ;  unchanged  as  God, 
Who,  in  his  own  essential  nature,  binds 
Eternally  to  virtue  happiness  ; 
Nor  lets  them  part  through  all  his  Universe. 

Philosophy,  as  thou  shalt  hear,  when  she 
Shall  have  her  praise — her  praise  and  censure  too, 
Did  much,  refining  and  exalting  man  ; 
But  could  not  nurse  a  single  plant  that  bore 


BOOK  III.  63 

True  happiness. — From  age  to  age  she  (oiled  ; 

Shed  from  her  eyes  the  mist  that  dimmed  them  still, 

Looked  forih  on  man  ;  explored  the  wild  and  tame. 

The  savage  and  polite,  the  sea  and  land, 

And  starry  heavens  ;  and  then  retired  far  back 

To  meditation's  silent  shady  seat  ; 

And  there  sat  pale,  and  thoughtfully,  and  weighed 

With  wary,  most  exact  and  scrupulous  care, 

Man's  nature,  passions,  hopes,  propensities, 

Relations  and  pursuits,  in  reason's  scale  ; 

And  searched  and  weighed,  and  weighed  and  searched 

again. 
And  many  a  fair  and  goodly  volume  wrote, 
That  seemed  well  worded  too,  wherein  were  found 
Uncountable  receipts,  pretending  each, 
If  carefully  attended  to,  to  cure 
Mankind  of  folly ; — to  root  out  the  briers. 
And  thorns,  and  weeds  that  choked  the  growth  of  joys 
And  showing  too,  in  plain  and  decent  phrase. 
Which  sounded  much  like  wisdom's,  how  to  plant, 
To  shelter,  water,  culture,  prune,  and  rear 
The  tree  of  happiness  ;  and  oft  their  plans 
Were  tried  ; — but  still  the  fruit  was  green  and  sour. 

Of  all  the  trees  that  in  Earth's  vineyard  grew, 
And  with  their  clusters  tempted  man  to  pull 
And  eat, — one  tree,  one  tree  alone,  the  true 
Celestial  manna  bore  which  filled  the  soul, 
The  tree  of  Holiness — of  heavenly  seed, 
A  native  of  the  skies ;  Iho'  stun'ed  much, 
And  dwarfed,  by  Time's  cold,  damp,  ungenial  aoil^ 
And  chilling  winds,  yet  yielding  fruit  so  pure, 
So  nourishing  and  sweet,  as,  on  his  way. 
Refreshed  the  pilgrim  ;  and  becot  desire 
Unquenchable  to  climb  the  arduous  path 
To  where  her  sister  plants  in  their  own  clime 
Around  the  (ount,  and  by  the  stream  of  life, 
Blooming  beneath  the  Sun  that  never  sets,— 
Bear  fruit  of  perfect  relish  fully  ripe. 
D3 


64  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

To  plant  this  tree,  uprooted  by  the  fall. 
To  earth  the  Sod  of  Go  J  descended,  shed 
His  precious  blood  ;  and  on  it  evermore, 
From  otf  his  living  wings,  the  spirit  shook 
The  dews  of  heaven,  to  nurse  and  hasten  its  growth. 
Nor  was  this  care,  this  intinile  expense, 
Not  needed  to  secure  the  holy  plant. 
To  root  it  out,  and  wither  it  from  earth, 
Hell  strove  with  all  its  sirengih,  and  blew  with  all 
Its  blasts ;  and  Sin,  wilh  cold  consumptive  breath, 
Involved  it  still  in  clouds  of  mortal  damp. 
Yet  did  it  grow,  thus  kept,  protected  thus  ; 
And  bear  the  only  fruit  of  true  delight  ; 
The  only  fruit  worth  plucking  under  heaven. 

But,  few,  alas  !  the  holy  plant  could  see, 

For  heavy  mists  that  Sin  around  it  threw 

Perpetually  ;  and  few  the  sacrifice 

Would  make  by  which  alone  its  clusters  stooped, 

And  came  wilhin  the  reach  of  mortal  man. 

For  this,  of  him  who  would  approach  and  eat, 

Was  rigorously  exacted  to  the  full  : — 

To  tread  and  bruise  beneath  the  foot,  the  world 

Entire  ;  its  prides,  ambitions,  hopes,  desires  ; 

Its  gold,  and  all  its  broidered  equipage  ; 

To  loose  its  loves  and  friendships  from  the  heart, 

And  cast  them  oflF ;  to  shut  the  ear  against 

Its  praise,  and  all  its  flatteries  abhor  ; 

And  having  thus  behind  him  thrown  what  seemed 

So  good  and  fair— then  must  he  lowly  kneel, 

And  with  sincerity,  in  which  the  Eye 

That  slumbers  not,  nor  sleeps,  could  see  no  lack. 

This  prayer  pray: — "Lord  God  !  thy  will  be  done; 

Thy  holy  will,  howe'er  it  cross  my  own." 

Hard  labor  this  for  flesh  and  blood  !  too  hard 

For  most  it  seemed  :  so,  turning,  they  the  tree 

Derided,  as  mere  bramble  that  could  bear 

No  fruit  of  special  taste  ;  and  so  set  out 

Upon  ten  thousand  different  routes  to  seek 


BOOK  III.  65 

What  they  bad  left  behind  ;  to  seek  what  they 

Had  lost— for  still  as  something  once  possest. 

And  lost,  true  happiness  appeared  ;  all  thought 

They  once  were  happy  :  and  even  while  thty  smoked 

And  panted  in  the  cfjase — believed  themselvea 

More  miserable  to-day  than  yesterday — 

To-morrow  than  to-day.    When  youth  complained, 

The  ancient  sinner  shook  his  hoary  head, 

As  if  he  meant  to  say  :  Stop  till  you  come 

My  lenfth,  and  then  you  may  have  cause  to  sigh. 

At  twenty,  cried  the  boy,  who  now  had  seen 

Some  blemish  in  his  joys  :  How  happily 

Plays  yonder  child  that  busks  the  mimic  babe. 

And  gathers  gentle  flowers,  and  never  sighs. 

At  forty  in  the  fervor  of  pursuit. 

Far  en  in  disappf^intmenf-s  dreary  vale, 

The  grave  and  sage-like  man  looked  back  upon 

The  strippling  youth  of  plump  unseared  hope, 

Who  galloped  gay  and  briskly  up  behind— 

And  moaning  wished  himself  eighteen  again. 

And  he  of  threescore  years  and  ten,  in  whose 

Chilled  eye,  fatigued  with  gaping  after  hope. 

Earth's  freshest  verdure  seemed  but  blasted  leaves, — 

Praised  childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  and  denounced 

Old  age  alone  as  tarren  of  ill  joy. 

Decisive  proof  that  men  had  left  behind 

The  happiness  they  sought,  and  taken  a  most 

Erroneous  path  ;  since  every  step  they  took 

Was  deeper  mire.    Yet  did  they  onward  ran — 

Pursuing  hope  that  danced  before  them  still, 

And  beckoned  them  to  proceed — and  with  their  hands. 

That  shook  and  trembled  piteously  with  age, 

Grasped  at  the  lying  Shade,  even  t'ill  the  Earth 

Beneath  them  broke,  and  wrapped  them  in  the  grave. 

Sometimes  indeed  when  wisdom  in  their  ear 
Whispered,  and  with  its  disenchanting  wand 
Effectually  touched  the  sorcerv  of  their  eyea, 
Directly  pointiog  to  the  holy  iTree. 


66  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Where  grew  the  food  they  «onght,  they  turned,  sur- 
prised 
That  they  liad  missed  so  long  what  now  they  found. 
A8  one  upon  whose  mind  some  new  and  rare 
Idea  glances,  and  retires  as  quick, 
Ere  memory  have  time  to  write  it  down  ; 
Stung  with  the  loss,  into  a  thoughtful  cast, 
He  throws  his  face  ;  and  rubs  his  vexed  brow  : 
Searches  each  nook  and  corner  of  his  soul 
With  frequent  care  ;  reflects,  and  re-reflects, 
And  tries  to  touch  relations  that  may  start 
The  fugitive  again  j  and  oft  is  foiled  ; 
Till  somethins  like  a  seeming  chance,  or  flight 
Of  random  fancy,  when  expected  least. 
Calls  back  the  wandered  thought,  long  sought  in  vain, 
Then  does  uncommon  joy  fill  all  his  mind  ; 
And  still  he  wonders,  as  he  holds  it  fast. 
What  lay  so  near  he  could  not  sooner  find  : 
So  did  the  man  rejoice,  when  from  his  eye 
The  film  of  folly  fell,  and  what  he  day 
And  night,  and  far  and  near,  had  idly  searched 
Sprung  up  before  him  suddenly  displayed  ; 
So  wondered  why  he  missed  the  tree  so  long. 

But,  few  returned  from  folly's  giddy  chase. 
Few  heard  the  voice  of  wisdom,  or  obeyed. 
Keen  was  the  search,  and  various  and  wide  ; 
Without,  within,  along  the  flowery  vale, 
And  up  the  rugged  cliff,  and  on  the  top 
Of  mountains  high,  and  on  the  ocean  wave. 
Keen  was  the  search,  and  various  and  wide, 
And  ever  and  anon  a  shout  was  heard  : 
Ho  !  here's  the  tree  of  life  ;  come,  eat,  and  live  I 
And  round  the  new  discoverer  quick  they  flocked 
In  multitudes,  and  plucked,  and  with  great  haste 
Devoured  ;  and  sometimes  in  the  lips  'twas  sweet, 
And  promised  well  ;  but  in  the  belly, gall. 
Yet  after  him  that  cried  again  :  Ho  !  here's 
The  tree  of  life  ;  again  they  ran.  and  pulled. 


EOOKIIL 

And  chewed  aeain,  and  found  it  bitter  still. 
From  disappointment  on  to  disappointment, 
Year  after  year,  a?e  after  age  pursued  : 
Tlie  child,  the  youth,  the  hoary  headed  man. 
Alike  pursued  !  and  ne'er  grew  wise,  for  it 
Was  folly's  most  peculiar  attribute, 
And  native  act,  to  make  experience  void. 

But  hastily  as  pleasures  tasted  turned 
To  loathing  and  disgust,  they  needed  not 
Even  such  experiment  to  prove  them  vain. 
In  hope  or  in  possession,  Fear,  alike. 
Boding  disaster,  stood.     Over  the  flower 
Of  fairest  sort,  that  bloomed  beneath  the  sun. 
Protected  most,  and  sheltere-d  from  the  storm. 
The  Spectre,  like  a  dark  and  thunderous  cloud. 
Hung  dismally,  and  threatened  before  the  hand 
Of  him  that  wished,  could  pull  it,  to  descend. 
And  o'er  the  desert  drive  its  withered  leaves  j 
Or  being  pulled,  to  blast  it  unen joyed, 
While  yet  he  gazed  upon  its  loveliness. 
And  just  began  to  drink  its  fragrance  up. 

Gold  many  hunted,  sweat  and  bled  for  gold  ; 
Waked  all  the  night,  and  labored  all  the  day. 
And  what  was  this  allurement,  dost  thou  ask  ? 
A  dust  dug  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth, 
Which,  being  cast  into  the  fire,  came  out 
A  shining  thing  that  fools  admired,  and  called 
A  god  ;  and  in  devout  and  humble  plight 
Before  it  kneeled,  the  greater  to  the  less. 
And  on  its  altar  sacrificed  ease,  peace. 
Truth,  faith,  integrity  ;  good  conscience,  fricndd, 
Love,  charity,  benevolence,  and  all 
The  sweet  and  tender  sympathies  of  life  ; 
And  to  complete  the  horrid  murderous  rite. 
And  signalize  their  folly,  offered  up 
Their  souls  and  an  eternity  of  bliss. 
To  gain  them— what  ?  an  hour  of  dreaming  joy  : 


58  THE  CODRSE  OF  TIME. 

A  feverish  hour  that  hasted  to  be  done, 
And  ended  in  the  bitterness  of  wo. 

Most  for  the  luxuries  it  bought— the  pomp, 
The  praise,  the  glitter,  fashion,  and  reijOWTi, 
This  yellow  phantom  followed  and  adored. 
But  there  was  one  in  fnlly  farihi*  gone  ; 
With  eye  awry,  incurable  and  wild, 
The  laughing4tock  of  devils  and  of  men. 
And  by  his  euardian  angel  quite  given  up— 
The  miser,  who  with  dust  inanimate 
Held  wedded  intercourse.    Ill  guided  wretch  t 
Thou  might'st  have  seen  him  at  the  midnight  hour, 
When  good  men  slep',  and  in  lig'ht  winged  dreams 
Ascended  up  to  God, — in  wasteful  hall, 
With  vigilance  and  fasting  worn  to  skin 
And  Ixjne,  and  wrapped  in  most  debasing  rags, — 
Thou  might'st  have  seen  him  bending  o'er  his  heaps, 
And  holding  strange  communion  vyith  his  gold  i 
And  as  his  thievish  fancy  seemed  to  hear 
The  night-man's  foot  approach,  starting  alarmed, 
And  in  his  old,  decrepit,  withered  hand. 
That  palsy  shook,  grafping  the  yellow  earth 
To  make  it  sure.     Of  all  God  made  upright, 
And  in  their  nostrils  breathed  a  living  soul, 
Most  fallen,  most  prone,  most  earthy,  most  debased; 
Of  all  that  sold  eternity  for  Time 
None  t>argained  on  so  easy  terms  with  death. 
Illustrious  fool  !  Nay,  most  inhuman  wretch  ! 
He  sat  among  his  bags,  and  with  a  look 
Which  hell  might  be  ashamed  of,  drove  the  poor 
Away  unalmsed  ;  and  midst  abundance  died — 
Soiestof  evils  !  died  of  utter  want. 

Before  this  Shadow  in  the  vales  of  earth. 
Fools  saw  another  glide,  which  seemed  of  more 
Intrinsic  worth.     Pleasure  her  name — good  name 
Tho'  ill  applied.     A  thousand  forms  she  took, 
A  thousand  garbs  she  wore  ;  in  every  age 


BOOK  III.  59 

And  clime  changing,  as  in  her  votaries  changed 
Desire  :  but,  inwardly,  the  same  in  all. 
Her  most  essential  lineaments  we  trace ; 
Her  general  features  every  where  alilse. 

Of  comely  form  she  was,  and  fair  of  face ; 
And  underneath  her  eyelids  sat  a  kind 
Of  witching  sorcery  that  nearer  drew 
Whoever  with  unguarded  look  beheld  ; 
A  dress  of  gaudy  hue  loosely  attired 
Her  loveliness  ;  her  air  and  manner  frank, 
And  seeming  free  of  all  disguise  ;  her  song 
Enchanting  ;  and  her  words  which  sweelly  dropt, 
As  honey  from  the  comb,  most  large  of  promise, 
Still  prn'phecying  days  of  new  delight, 
And  rapturous  nights  of  undecayiug  joy. 
And  in  her  hand,  where'er  she  went,  she  held 
A  radiant  Cup  that  seemed  of  nectar  full — 
And  by  her  side  danced  fair  delusive  Hope. 
The  fool  pursued  enamoured,  and  the  wise 
Experienced  man  who  reasoned  much,  and  thought, 
Was  sometimes  seen  laying  his  wisdom  down, 
And  Tying  with  the  stripling  in  the  chase. 

Nor  wonder  thou  '.  for  she  was  really  fair  ; 
Decked  to  the  very  taste  of  ileeh  and  blood. 
And  many  thought  her  sound  within  ;  and  gay 
And  healthy  at  the  heart  :  but  thought  amiss  : 
For  she  was  full  of  all  disease  ;  her  bones 
Were  rotten:  consumption  licked  her  blood. and  drank 
Her  marrow  up  ;  her  breath  sraelled  mortally  j 
And  in  her  bowels  plague  and  fever  lurked  ; 
And  in  her  very  heart,^  and  veins  and  life, 
Corruption's  worm  gnawed  greedily  unseen. 

Many  her  haunts,  thou  might'st  have  seen  her  now 
With  indolence,  lolling  on  the  mid^day  couch, 
And  whispering  drowsy  words  ;  and  now  at  dawa, 
Loudly  and  rough,  joining  the  sylvan  horn  ; 


60  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Or  sauntering  in  the  park,  and  to  the  tale 
Of  slander  giving  ear  ;  or  sitting  fierce, 
Rude,  blasphemous,  malicious,  raving,  mad, 
Where  fortune  to  the  fickle  die  was  bound. 

But  chief  she  loved  the  scene  of  deep  debauch, 
Where  revelry,  and  dance,  and  frantic  song, 
Disturbed  the  sleep  of  honest  men.     And  where 
The  drunkard  sat,  she  entered  in,  well  pleased, 
With  eye  brimful  of  wanton  mirthfulness, 
And  urged  him  still  to  fill  another  cup. 

And  at  the  shadowy  twilight — in  the  dark 
And  gloomy  night,  I  looked,  and  saw  her  come 
Abroad,  arrayed  in  harlot's  soft  attire  ; 
And  walk  without  in  every  street,  and  lie 
In  wait  at  everj-  corner,  full  of  guile. 
And  as  the  unwary  youth  of  simple  heart, 
And  void  of  understanding,  passed,  she  caught 
And  kissed  him,  and  with  lips  of  lying  said  : 
1  have  peace-offerings  with  me  ;  I  have  paid 
My  vows  this  day  ;  and  therefore  came  I  forth 
To  meet  thee,  and  to  seek  thee  diligently, 
To  seek  thy  face,  and  I  have  found  thee  here. 
My  bed  is  decked  with  robes  of  tapestry, 
With  carved  work,  and  sheets  of  linen  fine  ; 
Perfumed  with  aloes,  myrrh,  and  cinnamon. 
Sweet  are  stolen  waters  !  pleasant  is  the  bread 
In  secret  eaten  !  the  goodman  is  from  home. 
Come,  let  us  take  our  fill  of  love  till  mom 
Awake  ;  let  us  delight  ourselves  with  loves. 
With  much  fair  speech  she  caused  the  youth  to  yield; 
And  forced  him  with  the  flattering  of  her  tongue. 
I  looked  and  saw  him  follow  to  her  house. 
As  goes  the  ox  to  slaughter  ;  as  the  fool 
To  the  correction  of  the  stocks;  or  bird 
That  hastes  into  the  subtle  fowler's  snare. 
And  knows  not,  simple  thing,  'tis  for  its  life. 
I  saw  him  enter  in  ;  and  heard  the  door 


BOC"  m.  61 

Behind  them  shut ;  and  in  the  dark,  still  night, 
When  God's  unsleepin?  eye  alone  can  see, 
He  went  to  her  adulterous  bed.     At  moru 
1  looked,  and  saw  him  not  among  the  youths  . 
I  heard  his  father  mourn,  his  mother  weep  : 
For  none  returned  that  went  with  her.    The  dead 
Were  in  her  house  ;  her  guests  in  depths  of  hell : 
She  wove  the  winding-sheet  of  souls,  and  laid 
Them  in  the  uin  of  everlasting  death. 

Such  was  the  Shadow  fools  pursued  on  earth, 
Under  the  name  of  pleasure, — fair  outside, 
Within  corrup'ed,  and  corrupting  still  : 
Ruined,  and  ruinous  :  her  sure  reward, 
Her  total  recompence  was  still,  as  he. 
The  bard,  recorder  of  Earth's  seasons,  sung, 
"Veiation,  disappointment,  and  remorse." 
Yet  at  her  door  the  young  and  old,  and  some 
Who  held  high  character  among  the  wise, 
Together  stood, — and  strove  among  themselves, 
Who  first  should  enter,  and  be  ruined  first. 

Strange  competition  of   immortal  sods ! 
To  sweat  for  death  !  to  strive  lor  misery  ! 
But  think  not  Pleasure  told  her  end  was  death- 
Even  human  folly  then  had  paused  at  least, 
And  given  some  signs  of  hesitation  ;  nor 
Arrived  so  hot  and  out  of  breath  at  wo. 
Though  contradicted  every  day  by  facts. 
That  sophistry  itself  would  s:uinble  o'er, 
And  to  the  very  teeth  a  liar  proved 
Ten  thousand  times,  as  if  unconscious  still 
Of  inward  blame,  she  stood,  and  waved  her  hand, 
And  pointed  to  her  bower,  and  said  to  all 
Who  passed  :  Take  yonder  flowery  path  ;  my  steps 
Attend;  1  lead  the  smoothest  way  to  heaven  ; 
This  world  receive  as  surety  for  the  next. 
And  many  simple  men,  most  simple,  Iho' 
Renowned  for  learning  niucb,  and  wary  skill. 


62  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Believed,  and  turned  aside,  and  were  undone. 

Another  leaf  of  finished  Time  we  turn, 
And  read  of  Fame,  terrestrial  Fame,  which  died, 
And  rose  not  at  the  Resurrection  mom. 
Not  that  by  virtue  earned,  the  true  renown, 
Be^un  on  earth,  and  lasting  in  the  skies, 
Worthy  the  lofty  wish  of  seraphim, — 
The  approbation  of  the  Eye  that  sees 
The  end  from  the  beginning,  sees  from  cause 
To    most  remote  etTect  :  of  it  we  read 
In  book  of  God's  remembrance,  in  the  book 
Of  life,  from  which  the  quick  and  dead  were  judged^ 
The  book  that  lies  upon  the  tlirone,  and  tells 
Of  glorious  acts  by  saints  and  angels  done  ; 
The  record  of  the  holy,  just,  and  good. 

Of  all  the  phantoms  fleeting  in  the  mist 
Of  Time,  tho'  meagre  all,  and  ghostly  thin, 
Most  unsubstantial,  unessential  shade. 
Was  earthly  Fame.    She  was  a  voice  alone, 
And  dwelt  upon  the  noisy  tongues  of  men. 
She  never  thought  ;  but  gabbled  ever  on  ; 
Applauding  most  what  least  deserved  applause  : 
The  motive,  the  result  was  naught  to  her  : 
The  deed  alone,  tho'  dyed  in  human  gore. 
And  steeped  in  widow's  tears,  if  it  stood  out 
The  prominent  display,  she  talted  of  much. 
And  roared  around  it  with  a  thousand  tongues. 
As  changed  the  wind  her  organ,  so  she  changed 
Perpetually  ;  and  whom  she  praised  to-day, 
Vexing  his'  ear  with  acclamations  loud. 
To-morrow  blamed,  and  hissed  him  out  of  sight. 

Such  was  her  nature,  and  her  practice  such  : 
But,  0  !  her  voice  was  sweet  to  mortal  ears  ; 
And  touched  so  pleasantly  the  strings  of  pride 
And  vanity,  which  in  the  heart  of  main 
Were  ever  strung  harmonious  to  her  note. 


BOOK  III.  Q 

That  many  thought  to  live  without  her  song 
Was  rather  death  than  life  ;  to  live  uuknown, 
Unnoticed,  nnrenowned  !  to  die  unpraised  ! 
tJnepitaphed  !  to  go  down  to  the  pit, 
And  moulder  in  the  dust  among  vile  worms  ! 
And  leave  no  whispering  of  a  name  on  earth  ! 
Such  thought  was  cold  about  the  heart,  and  chilled 
The  blood.  Who  could  endure  it  ?  who  could  chooae^ 
Without  a  struggle,  to  be  swept  away 
From  all  remembrance  ?  and  have  part  no  more 
With  living  men  ?  Philnsfipby  failed  here  : 
And  self-approving  pride.    Hence  it  became 
The  aim  of  most,  and  main  pursuit,  to  win 
A  name — to  leave  some  vestige  as  they  passed, 
That  following  ages  might  discern  (hey  once 
Had  been  on  earth,  and  acted  something  there. 

Many  the  roads  they  took,  the  plans  they  tried ; 
The  man  of  science  to  the  shade  retired. 
And  laid  his  head  upon  his  hand,  in  mood 
Of  awful  Ihoughtfuluess  ;  and  dived,  and  dived 
Again— deeper  and  deeper  still,  to  sound 
The  cause  remote — resolved,  before  be  died, 
To  make  some  grand  discovery,  by  which 
He  should  be  known  to  all  posterity. 

And  in  the  silent  vigils  of  the  night, 
When  uninspired  men  reposed,  the  bard, 
Ghastly  of  countenance,  and  from  his  eye 
Oft  streaming  wild  unearthly  fire,  set  up  ; 
And  sent  imagination  forth  ;  and  searched 
The  far  and  near— heaven,  earth  and  gloomy  hell— 
For  fiction  new,  for  thought,  unthought  before  ; 
And  when  some  curious  rare  idea  peered 
Upon  his  mind,  he  dipped  his  hasty  pen. 
And  by  the  glimmering  lamp,  or  moonlight  beanit 
That  thro'  his  lattice  peeped,  wrote  fondly  down 
What  seemed  in  truth  imperishable  song. 


64  THE  COUaSE  OF  TIME. 

And  sometimes  too,  the  reverend  diTine, 
In  meditation  deep  of  holy  things, 
And  vanities  of  Time,  heard  Fame's  sweet  voice 
Approach  his  ear — and  hang  another  flower, 
Of  earthly  sort,  abnut  the  sacred  truth  ; 
And  ventured  whiles  to  mix  the  bitter  text, 
Which  relish  suited  to  the  sinner's  taste. 

And  oft-times  too,  the  simple  hind,  who  seemed 
Ambitionless,  arrayed  in  humble  garb. 
While  round  him  spreading,  fed  his  harmless  flock, 
Sitting  was  seen,  by  some  wild  warbling  brook, 
Carvin?  his  name  upon  his  favorite  stafi' j 
Or,  in  ill-favored  letters,  tracing  it 
Upon  the  aged  thorn  ;  or  on  the  face 
Of  some  conspicuous  oft  frequented  stone, 
With  persevering  wondrous  industry  ; 
And  hoping,  as  he  toiled  amain,  and  saw 
The  characters  take  form,  some  other  wight. 
Long  after  he  was  dead,  and  in  the  grave. 
Should  loiter  there  at  noon  and  read  his  name. 

In  purple  some,  and  some  in  rags,  stood  forth 
For  reputation  ;  some  displayed  a  limb 
Well-fashioned  :  some  of  lowlier  mind,  a  cano 
Of  curious  workmanship,  and  marvellous  twist : 
In  strength  some  sought  it,  and  in  beauty  more. 
Long,  long  the  fair  one  labored  at  the  glass, 
And,  being  tired,  called  in  auxiliar  skill. 
To  have  her  sails,  before  she  went  abroad. 
Full  spread,  and  nicely  set,  to  catch  the  gale 
Of  praise.  And  much  she  caught,  and  much  deserved^ 
When  outward  loveliness  was  index  fair 
Of  purity  within  :  but  oft  alas  ! 
The  bloom  was  on  the  skin  alone ;  and  when 
She  saw,  sad  sight !  the  roses  on  her  cheek 
Wither,  and  heard  the  voice  of  fame  retire 
And  die  away,  she  heaved  most  piteons  sighs. 
And  wept  most  lameotable  tears  ;  and  whilee. 


BOOK  III.  65 

In  wild  delirium,  made  rash  attempt, 
Unholy  mimickry  of  Nature's  work  ! 
To  re-create,  srHh  frail  and  mortal  things, 
Her  wither'd  face.    Attempt  bow  fond  and  vain  ! 
Her  frame  itself,  soon  mouldered  down  to  dust ; 
And  in  the  land  of  deep  forgelliilness. 
Her  beauty  and  her  name  were  laid  beside 
Eternal  silence,  and  the  loathsome  worm  ; 
Into  whose  darknt-ss  flattery  ventured  not  ; 
Where  none  had  ears  to  hear  the  voice  of  Fame. 

Many  the  roads  they  took,  the  plans  they  tried. 
And  awful  oft  the  wickedness  they  wrought 
To  be  observed,  some  scrambled  up  to  thrones, 
And  sat  in  vestures  dripping  wet  with  gore. 
The  warrior  dipped  his  sword  in  blood,  and  wrote 
His  name  on  lands  and  cities  desolate. 
The  rich  bought  fields,  and  bouses  built,  and  raised 
The  monumental  piles  up  to  the  clouds. 
And  called  them  by  their  names.  And,  strange  to  tell! 
Rather  than  be  unknown,  and  pass  away 
Obscurely  to  the  grave,  some,  small  of  soul, 
That  else  had  perished  unobserved,  acquired 
Considerable  renown  by  oaths  profane, 
By  jesting  boldly  with  all  sacred  things. 
And  uttering  fearlessly  wha'e'er  occurred  ;— 
Wild,  blasphemous,  perditionable  thonghlB, 
That  Satan  in  them  moved  ;  by  wiser  men 
Suppressed,  and  quickly  banished  from  the  mind. 

Many  the  roads  they  took,  the  plans  they  tried : 
But  all  in  vain.     Who  grasped  at  earthly  fame,        • 
Grasped  wind:  nay  worse,  a  serpent  8rrasped,that  thro 
His  hand  slid  smoothly,  and  was  gone  ;  but  left 
A  sting  behind  which  wrought  him  endless  pain  ; 
For  oft  her  voice  was  old  Abaddon's  lure, 
By  which  he  charmed  the  foolish  soul  to  death. 
So  happiness  was  sought  in  pleasure,  «old, 
Renown— by  many  sought.    But  should  I  sing 


66  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  all  the  triflias  race,  my  time,  tbjr  faith, 

Would  fail— of  things  erectly  organized, 

And  having  rational,  articulate  voice. 

And  claiming  outward  brotherhood  with  man, — 

Of  him  that  labored  sorely,  in  his  sweat 

Smoiiing  afar,  then  hurried  to  the  wine, 

Deliberately  resolving  to  be  mad  : 

Of  him  who  taught  the  ravenous  bird  to  fly 

This  way  or  that,  thereby  supremely  blest ; 

Or  rode  in  fury  with  the  howlingpack, 

Affronting  much  the  noble  animal. 

He  spurred  into  such  company  :  of  "him 

Who  down  in'o  the  bowels  of  the  earth 

Descended  deeply,  to  bring  up  the  wreck 

Of  some  old  earthern  ware,  which  having  stowed 

With  every  proper  care,  he  home  returned 

O'er  many  a  sea,  and  many  a  league  of  land, 

Triumphantly  to  show  the  marvellous  prize  : 

And  him  that  vexed  his  brain,  and  theories  built 

Of  gossamer  upon  the  brittle  winds  ; 

Perplexed  exceedingly  why  shells  were  found 

Upon  the  mountain  lops  ;  but  wondering  not 

Why  shells  were  fuund  at  all,  more  wondrous  still ! 

Of  him  who  strange  enjoyment  took  in  tales 

Of  fair)'  folk,  and  sleepless  ghosts,  and  sounds 

Unearthly,  whispering  in  the  ear  of  night 

Disastrous  things  :  and  him  who  still  foretold 

Calamity  which  never  came,  and  lived 

In  terror  all  his  days  of  comets  rude, 

That  should  unmannerly  and  lawless  drive 

Athwart  the  path  of  Earth,  and  burn  mankind  : 

As  if  the  appointed  hour  of  doom,  by  God 

Appointed,  ere  its  time  should  come  :  as  if 

Too  small  the  number  of  sutistantial  ills. 

And  real  fears  to  vex  the  sons  of  men.— 

These, — had  they  not  possessed  immortal  souls, 

And  been  accountable,  might  have  been  passed 

With  laughter,  and  forgot ;  but  as  it  was, 

And  is, — their  folly  asks  a  serious  tear. 


BOOK  IIL  67 

Keen  was  the  search,  and  various  and  wide, 
For  happiness.    Take  one  example  more — 
So  strange,  that  common  fools  looked  on  amazed, 
And  wise  and  sober  men  together  drew, 
And  trembling  stood  ;  and  angels  in  the  heavens 
Grew  pale,  and  talked  of  vengeance  as  at  hand — 
The  sceptic's  route — the  unbeliever's,  who, 
Despising  reason,  revelation,  God, 
And  kicking  'gainst  the  pricks  of  conscience,  rushed 
Deliriously  upon  the  bossy  shield 
Of  the  Omnipotent :  and  in  his  heart 
Purposed  to  deify  the  idol  chance. 
And  labored  hard— oh,  libor  worse  than  naught  I 
And  toiled  with  dark  and  crooked  reasoning, 
To  make  the  fair  and  lovely  Earth  which  dwelt 
In  sight  of  heaven,  a  cold  and  fatherless, 
Forsaken  thing,  that  wandered  on,  forlorn, 
Undestined,  uncompassioned,  unupheld  ; 
A  vapor  eddying  in  the  whirl  of  chance, 
And  soon  to  vanish  everlastingly. 
He  travailed  sorely,  and  made  many  a  (ack, 
His  sails  oft  shifting,  to  arrive — dread  thought ! 
Arrive  at  utter  nothingness,  and  have 
Being  no  more — no  feeling,  memory, 
No  lingering  consciousness  that  e'er  he  was. 
Guilt's  midnight  wish  !  las',  most  abhorred  thought: 
Most  desperate  effort  of  exlremest  sin  ! 
Others  preoccupied,  ne'er  saw  true  hope  ; 
He  seeing,  aimed  to  stab  her  to  the  heart, 
And  with  infernal  chemistry  to  wring 
The  last  sweet  drop  from  sorrow's  cup  of  gall; 
To  quench  the  only  ray  thai  cheered  the  earth, 
And  leave  mankind  in  night  which  had  no  star. 
Others  the  streams  of  pleasure  troubled,  he 
Toiled  much  to  dry  her  very  fountain  head. 
Unpardonable  man  !  sold  under  sin  ! 
He  was  the  Devil's  pioneer,  who  cut 
The  fences  down  of  virtue,  sapped  her  walls, 
And  opened  a  smooth  and  easy  way  to  death. 


68  THE  COURSE  OF  TIxVlE. 

Traitor  to  all  existence  !  to  all  life  ! 

Soul-suicide  !  dcterDiined  foe  of  being  ! 

Intended  murderer  of  God,  Most  High  ! 

Stranse  road,  most  strange  !  to  seek  for  happiness  I 

Hell's  mad-houses  are  full  of  such  ;  too  fierce, 

Too  furiously  insane,  and  desperate, 

To  rage  unbound  'mong  evil  spirits  damned  ! 

Fertile  was  earth  in  many  things  :  not  least 
In  fools,  who  mercy  both  and  judgment  scorned : 
Scorned  love,  experience  scorned:  and  onward  rushed 
To  swift  destruction,  giving  all  reproof  ; 
And  all  instruction,  to  the  winds  :  and  much 
Of  both  they  had — and  much  despised  of  both. 

Wisdom  took  up  her  harp,  and  stood  in  place 
Of  frequent  concourse— stood  in  every  gate, 
By  every  way,  and  walked  in  every  street ; 
And  lifting  up  her  voice,  proclaimed  :  Be  wise 
Ye  fools  !  be  of  an  understanding  heart. 
Forsake  the  wicked  :  come  not  near  his  house  : 
Pass  by  :  make  haste  :  depart  and  turn  away. 
Me  follow — me,  whose  ways  are  pleasantness. 
Whose  paths  are  peace,  whose  end  is  perfect  joy. 
The  Seasons  came  and  went,  and  went  and  came, 
To  teach  men  gratitude  ;  and  as  they  passed. 
Gave  warning  of  the  lapse  of  time,  that  else 
Had  stolen  unheeded  by  :  the  gentle  Flowers 
Retired,  and,  stooping  o'er  the  wilderness, 
Talked  of  humility,  and  peace,  and  love. 
The  Dews  came  down  unseen  at  evening  tide, 
And  silently  their  bounties  shed,  to  teach 
Mankind  unostentatious  charity. 
With  arm  in  arm  the  forest  rose  on  high, 
And  lesson  gave  of  brotherly  regard. 
And  on  the  rugsred  mountain  brow  exposed, 
Bearing  the  blast  alone— the  ancient  oak 
Stood,  lifting  high  his  mighty  arm.  and  still 
To  courage  in  distress  exhorted  loud. 


BOOK  III.  68 

The  flocks,the  herds,  the  birds,  the  streams,  the  breeze, 
Attuned  the  heart  to  melody  and  love. 
Mercy  stood  in  the  cloud,  with  eye  that  wept 
Esseutial  love  ;  and,  from  her  glorious  bow, 
Bending  to  kiss  the  earth  in  token  of  peace, 
With  her  own  lips,  her  gracious  lips,  which  God 
Of  sweetest  accent  made,  she  whispered  still, 
She  whispered  to  Revenue  : — Forgive,  forgive  ! 
The  San  rejoicing  round  the  earth,  announced 
Daily  the  wisdom,  power,  and  love  of  God. 
The  Moon  awoke,  and  from  her  maiden  face. 
Shedding  her  cloudy  locks,  looked  meekly  forth, 
And  with  her  virgin  stars  walked  in  the  heavens, 
Walked  nightly  there,  conversing  as  she  walked, 
Of  purily,  and  holiness,  and  God. 
In  dreams  and  visions  sleep  instructed  much. 
Day  uttered  speech  to  day,  and  night  to  night 
Taught  knowledge  :  silence  had  a  tongue  :  the  grave, 
The  darkness,  and  the  lonely  waste,  had  each 
A  tongue,  that  ever  said — Man  I  think  of  God  ! 
Think  of  thyself  !  think  of  eternity  ! 
Fear  God,  the  thunders  said  ;  fear  God,  the  w^vea  ; 
Fear  God,  the  lightning  of  the  storm  replied  ; 
Fear  God,  deep  loudly  answered  back  to  deep. 
And,  in  the  temples  of  the  Holy  One — 
Messiah's  messengers,  the  faithful  few — 
Faithful  'mong  many  false — the  Bible  opened, 
And  cried  :  Repent  '.  repent  ye  Sons  of  Men  ! 
Believe,  be  saved  :  and  reasoned  awfully 
Of  tenjperance,  righteousness,  and  judgment  soon 
To  come — of  evef-during  life  and  death. 
And  chosen  bards  from  age  to  age  awoke 
The  sacred  lyre,  and  full  on  folly's  ear. 
Numbers  of  righteous  indignalion  poured. 
And  God  omnipotent,  when  mercy  failed, 
Made  bare  his  holy  arm  ;  and  with  the  stroke 
Of  vengeance  smote  ;  the  fountains  of  the  deep 
Broke  up  ;  heaven's  windows  opened  ;  and  sent  on  men 
A  flood  of  wrath;  sent  plague  and  famine  forth ; 
E3 


70  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

With  earthquake  rocked  the  world  beneath;    with 

storms 
Above  ;  laid  cities  waste  ;  and  turned  fat  lands 
To  barrenness ;  and  with  the  sword  of  war 
In  fury  marched,  and  gave  them  blood  to  drink. 
Angels  remonstrated  :  Mercy  beseeched  : 
Heaven  smiled,  and  frowned  ;  Hell  groaned  :    Time 

fled  :  Death  shook 
His  dart,  and  threatened  to  make  repentance  vain.— 
Incredible  assertion  !  men  rushed  on 
Determinedly  to  ruin  :  shut  their  ears, 
Their  eyes  to  all  advice,  to  all  reproof— 
O'er  mercy  and  o'er  judgment  downward  rushed 
To  misery  :  and,  most  incredible 
Of  all !  to  misery  rushed  along  the  way 
Of  disappointment  and  remorse,  where  still 
At  every  s'ep,  adders,  in  pleasure's  form, 
Stung  mortally  ;  and  Joys, — whose  bloomy  cheeks 
Seemed  glowing  high  w'ith  immortality. 
Whose  bosoms  prophesied  superfluous  bliss, — 
While  in  the  arms  received,  and  locked  in  close 
And  riotous  embrace,  turned  pale,  and  cold, 
And  died,  and  smelled  of  putrifaction   rank  : 
Turned,  in  the  very  moment  of  delight, 
A  loathsome,  heavy  corpse,  that  with  the  clear 
And  hollow  eyes  of  Death,  stared  horribly. 

All  tribes,  all  generations  of  the  earth, 
Thus  wantonly  to  ruin  drove  alike  : 
We  heard  indeed  of  golden  and  silver  days  ; 
And  of  primeval  innocence  unstained— 
A  pagan  tale  1  but  by  baptized  bards, 
Philosophers,  and  statesmen,  who  were  still 
Held  wise  and  cunning  men,  talked  of  so  much, 
That  most  believed  it  so,  and  asked  not  why. 

The  pair,  the  family  first  made,  were  ill ; 
And  for  their  great  peculiar  sin  incurred 
The  Curse,  and  left  it  due  to  all  their  race  ; 


BOOK  IIL  71 

And  bold  example  gave  of  every  crime — 

Hate,  murder,  unbelief,  reproach,  revenge. 

A  time,  'tis  true,  there  came,  of  which  thou  ioon 

Shalt  hear— the  Sabbath  Day,  the  Jubilee 

Of  Earth,  when  righteousness  and  peace  prevailed. 

This  time  except,  who  writes  the  history 

Of  men,  and  writes  it  true,  must  write  them  bad. 

Who  reads,  must  read  of  violence  and  blood. 

The  man  who  could  the  story  of  one  day 

Peruse  ;  the  wrongs,  oppressions,  cruellies  ; 

Deceits,  and  perjuries,  and  'anities  ; 

Rewarded  worthlessness,  rejected  worth  ; 

Assassinations,  robberies,  thefts,  and  wars  ; 

Disastrous  accidents,  life  thrown  away ; 

Divinity  insulted  ;  Heaven  despised  ; 

Religiou  scorned  ; — and  not  been  sick  at  night, 

And  sad,  had  gathered  greater  store  of  mirth, 

Than  ever  wise  man  in  the  world  could  find. 

One  cause  of  folly,  one  especial  cause 
Was  this — few  knew  what  wisdom  was ;  tho'  well 
Defined  in  God's  own  words,  and  printed  large. 
On  heaven  and  earth  in  characters  of  light. 
And  sounded  in  the  ear  by  every  wind. 

Wisdom  is  humble,  said  the  voice  of  God. 
Tis  proud,  the  world  replied.     Wisdom,  said  God, 
Forgives,  forbears  and  suffers,  not  for  fear 
Of  man,  but  God.     Wisdom  revenges,  said 
The  world  ;  is  quick  and  deadly  of  resentment ; 
Thrusts  at  the  very  shadow  of  aflfront, 
And  hastes,  by  death,  to  wipe  its  honor  clean. 
Wisdom,  said  God,  loves  enemies,  entreats, 
Solicits,  begs  for  peace.     Wisdom,  replied 
The  world,  hales  enemies ;  will  not  ask  peace, 
Conditions  spurns,  and  triumphs  in  their  fall. 
Wisdom  mistrusts  itself,  and  leans  on  heaven. 
Said  God.     It  trusts  and  leans  upon  itself. 
The  world  replied.    Wisdom  retires,  said  God, 


72  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  CAunts  it  bravery  to  bear  reproach 

And  shame,  and  lowly  poverty  upright ; 

And  weeps  with  all  who  have  just  cause  to  weep. 

Wisdom,  replied  ine  world,  struts  forth  to  Raze  ; 

Treads  the  broad  stage  of  life  with  clamorous  foot  ; 

Attracts  all  praises  ;  counts  it  bravery 

Alone  to  wield  the  sword  and  rush  on  death  ; 

And  never  weeps,  but  for  its  own  disgrace. 

Wisdom,  said  God,  is  hishest,  when  it  stoops 

Lowest  before  the  Holy  Throne,  throws  dort'n 

Its  crown  abased,  forgets  itself,  admires, 

And  breathes  adoring  praise.     There  wisdom  stoops 

Indeed,  the  world  replied — there  stoops,  because 

It  must :  but  stoops  with  dignity  :  and  thinks 

And  meditates  the  while  of  inward  worth. 

Thus  did  Almighty  God,  and  tlius  the  world, 
■\\'isdom  define.   "And  most  the  world  believed  ; 
And  boldly  called  the  truth  of  God  a  lie. 
Hence,  he  that  to  the  worldly  wisdom  shaped 
His  character,  became  the  favorite 
Of  men — was  honorable  termed  ,  a  man 
Of  spirit ;  noble,  glorious,  lofty  k  ul  ! 
And  as  he  crossed  the  earth  in  chase  of  dreams, 
Received  prodigious  shouts  of  warm  applause. 
Hence,  who  to  godly  wisdom  framed  his  life, 
Was  counted  mean,  and  spiritless,  and  vile. 
And  as  he  walked  obscurely  in  the  path 
Which  led  to  heaven,fools  hissed  with  serpent  tn^agoe, 
And  poured  contempt  upon  his  holy  head  ; 
And  poured  contempt  on  all  who  praised  his  name. 

But  false  as  this  account  of  wisdom  was — 
The  world's  I  mean — it  was  its  best :  the  creed 
Of  sober,  grave,  and  philosophic  men  ; 
With  much  research  and  cogitation  framed  ; 
Of  men,  who  with  the  vulgar  scorned  to  sit. 

Tlie  popular  belief  seemed  rather  worse. 


When  heard  replying  to  the  voice  of  truth. 

The  wise  man,  said  the  Bible,  walks  with  God, 
Surveys  far  on  tbe  endless  line  of  life; 
Values  his  soul  ;  thinks  of  eternity  ; 
Both  ^vorlds  considers,  and  provides  for  bolh  ; 
With  reason's  eje  tiis  passions  guards  ;  abstains 
From  evil ;  lives  on  hope,  on  hope,  the  fruit 
Of  faith  ;  looks  upward  ;  purifies  his  soul ; 
Expands  his  wings,  and  mounts  into  the  sky  ; 
Passes  the  sun,  and  gains  his  father's  house'; 
And  drinks  with  angels  from  the  fount  of  bliss. 

The  multitude  aloud  replied — replied 
By  practice,  for  they  were  not  bookish  men  ; 
Kor  apt  to  form  their  principles  in  words — 
The  wise  man  first  of  all  eradicates, 
As  much  as  possible,  from  out  his  mind, 
All  thought  of  death,  God,  and  eternity  ; 
Admires  the  world,  and  tliinks  of  Time  alone ; 
Avoids  the  Bible,  all  reproof  avoids ; 
Ricks  conscience,  if  he  can,  asleep  ;  puis  out 
The  eye  of  reason;  prisons,  tortures,  binds; 
And  rnakes  her  thus  by  violence  and  force, 
Give  wicked  evidence  against  herself: 
Lets  passion  loose  ;  the  substance  leaves  ;  pursues 
The  shadow  vehemently,  but  ne'er  o'ertakes ; 
Puts  by  the  cup  of  holiness  and  joy  ; 
And  driuks,  carouses  deeply  in  the  bowl 
Of  death  ;  grovels  in  dust ;  pollutes,  destro>'S 
His  soul  ;  is  miserable  to  acquire 
More  misery  ;  deceives  to  be  deceived  ; 
S'rives,  labors  to  the  last  to  shun  the  truth  ; 
Strives,  labors  to  the  last  to  damn  himself ; 
Turns  desperate,  sbuddere,  groans,  blasphemes,  and 

dies. 
And  sinks — where  could  he  else  ? — to  endless  wo : 
And  drinks  (he  wine  of  God's  eternal  wrath. 


74  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

The  learned  thus,  and  thus  the  unlearned  world, 
Wisdom  defined — in  sound  they  disagreed  ; 
In  substance,  in  efl'ect,  in  end  the  same  ; 
And  equally  to  God  and  truth  opposed  ; 
Opposed  as  darkness  to  the  li^ht  of  heaven. 
Yet  were  there  some  that  seemed  well  meaning  men, 
Who  systems  planned,  expressed  in  supple  words, 
Which  praised  the  man  as  wisest,  that  in  one 
United  both  ;  pleased  God,  and  pleased  the  world  ; 
And  with  the  saint,  and  with  the  tinner  had, 
Changing  his  garb  unseen,  a  good  report. 
And  many  thought  their  definition  best  ; 
And  in  theii  wisdom  grew  exceeding  wiae. 

Union  abhorred  !  dissimulation  vain  ! 
Could  holiness  embrace  the  harlot  sin  ? 
Could  life  wed  death?  could  God  with  Mammon  dwell? 
Oh,  foolish  men  !  oh  men,  for  ever  lost ! 
In  spite  of  mercy  lost,  in  spite  of  wrath  ! 
In  spile  of  Disappointment  and  Remorse, 
Which  made  the  way  to  ruin  ruinous  ! 

Heir  what  they  were  : — the  progeny  of  sin 
Alike  ;  and  oft  combined  :  but  differing  much 
In  mode  of  giving  pain.    As  felt  the  gross, 
Material  part,  when  in  the  furnace  cast, 
So  felt  the  soul  the  victim  of  remorse. 
It  was  a  fire  which  on  the  verge  of  God's 
Commandment's  burned,  and  on  the  vitals  fed 
Of  all  who  passed.     Who  passed,  there  met  remorse. 
A  violent  fever  seized  his  soul  ;  the  heavens 
Above,  ihe  earth  beneath,  seemed  glowing  brass. 
Heated  seven  times  ;  he  heard   dread  voices  speak, 
And  mutter  horrid  prophecies  of  pain. 
Severer  and  severer  yet  to  come  : 
And  as  he  writhed  and  quivered,  scorched  within. 
The  Fury  round  his  torrid  temples  flapped 
Her  fierv  wings,  and  breathed  upon  his  lips. 
And  parched  tongue,  the  withered  blasts  of  bell. 


It  was  the  stiffering  begun,  thou  sawlst 
In  symbol  of  the  Worm  that  never  dies. 


The  other — Disappointment,  rather  i 
Negation  of  delight.     It  was  a  thing 
Sluggish  and  torpid,  tending  towards  death. 
Its  breath  was  cold,  and  made  the  sportive  blood, 
Stagnant,  and  dull,  and  heavy  round  the  wheels 
Of  life  :  the  roots  of  that  whereon  it  blew, 
Decayed,  and  with  the  genial  soil  no  more 
Held  sympathy — the  leaves,  the  branches  drooped, 
And  mouldered  slowly  down  to  formless  dust ; 
Not  tossed  and  driven  by  violence  of  winds  ; 
But  withering  where  they  sprung  and  rotting  there. 
Long  disappointed,  disappointed  still. 
The  hopeless  man,  hopeless  in  his  main  wish, 
As  if  reluming  back  to  nothing  felt 
In  strange  vacuity  of  being  hung. 
And  rolled,  and  rolled  bis  eye  on  emptiness, 
That  seemed  to  grow  more  empty  every  hour. 

One  of  this  mood  I  do  remember  well  : 
We  name  him  not,  what  now  arc  earthly  names  ? 
In  humble  dwelling  bom,  retired,  remote, 
In  rural  quietude  ;  'mong  hills,  and  streams. 
And  melancholy  deserts,  where  the  sun 
Saw,  as  he  passed,  a  shepherd  only,  here 
And  there  watching  his  little  flock  ;  or  heard 
The  plowman  talking  to  his  steers — his  hopes, 
His  morning  hopes,  awoke  before  him  smiling, 
Among  the  dews,  and  holy  mountain  airs  ; 
And  fancy  colored  them  with  every  hue 
Of  heavenly  loveliness:  but  soon  his  dreams 
Of  childhood  fled  away— those  rainbow  dreams. 
So  innocent  and  fair,  that  withered  a?e, 
Even  at  the  grave,  cleared  up  his  dusty  eye. 
And  passing  all  between,  looked  fondly  back 
To  see  them  once  again  ere  he  departed. — 
These  fled  away — aud  anxious  thought,  that  wished 


76  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

To  go,  yet  whither  knew  not  well  to  go, 
Possessed  his  soul,  and  held  it  still  awhile. 
He  listened — and  heard  from  far  the  voice  of  fame- 
Heard,  and  was  charmed  ;  and  deep  and  sudden  vow 
Of  resolution  made  to  be  renowned  : 
And  deeper  vowed  again  to  keep  his  vow. 
His  parents  saw — his  parents  whom  God  made 
Of  kindest  heart — saw,  and  indulged  his  hope. 
The  ancient  page  he  turned  j   read  much  ;   thought 

much ; 
And  wiih  old  bards  of  honorable  name 
Measured  his  soul  severely  ;  and  looked  up 
To  fame,  ambitious  of  no  second  place. 
Hope  grew  from  inward  faith,  and  promised  fair : 
And  out  before  him  opened  many  a  path 
Ascending,  where  the  laurel  highest  waved 
Her  branch  of  endless  green.     He  stood  admiring  ; 
But  stood,  admired  not  long.    The  harp  he  seized  ; 
Ttie  harp  he  loved— loved  better  than  his  life; 
The  harp  which  uttered  deepest  notes,  and  held 
The  ear  of  thought  a  captive  to  its  song. 
He  searched,  and  meditated  much,  and  whiles 
With  rapturous  hand  in  secret  touched  the  lyre, 
Aiming  at  glorious  strains— and  searched  again 
For  theme  deserving  of  immortal  verse  : 
Chose  now,  and  now  refused  unsatisfied  ; 
Pleased,  then  displeased,  and  hesitating  stilL 

Thus  stood  his  mind,  when  round  him  came  a  cloud ; 
Slowly  and  heavily  it  came  ;  a  cloud 
Of  ills  we  mention  not :  enough  to  say 
'Twas  cold,  and  dead,  impenetrable  gloom. 
He  saw  its  dark  approach  ;  and  saw  his  hopes, 
One  after  one,  put  out,  as  nearer  still 
It  drew  his  soul,  but  fainted  not  at  first  ; 
Fainted  not  soon.    He  knew  the  lot  of  nian 
Was  trouble,  and  prepared  to  bear  the  worst : 
Endure  whate'er  should  come,  without  a  sigh 
Endure,  and  drink,  even  to  the  very  dregs, 


The  bitterest  cup  that  Time  could  measure  out : 
And,  having  done,  look  up,  and  ask  for  more. 

He  called  Philosophy,  and  with  his  heart 
Reasoned  :  he  called  Religion  too,  but  called 
Reluctantly,  and  therefore  was  cot  heard. 
Ashamed  to  be  o'ermatched  by  earthly  woes, 
He  sought,  and  sought  with  eye  that  dimmed  apace, 
To  find  some  avenue  to  light,  some  place 
()ri  which  to  rest  a  hope — but  sought  in  vain. 
Darker  and  darker  stiil  the  darkness  grevr  ; 
At  length  he  sunk,  and  disappointment  stood 
Kis  only  comforter,  and  mournfully 
Told  all  was  past.     His  interest  in  life. 
In  being  ceased  :  and  now  he  seemed  to  feel, 
Aud  shuddered  as  be  felf  ;  his  powers  of  mind 
Decaying  in  the  spring-time  of  his  day. 
The  vigorous,  weak  became  ;  the  clear,  obscure  ; 
Memory  gave  up  her  charge  ;  decision  reeled  j 
Aud  from  her  flight  fancy  "returned,  returned 
Because  she  found  no  nourishment  abroad. 
The  blue  heavens  withered,  and  the  moon,  and  sun, 
And  all  the  stars,  and  the  green  earth,  and  mora 
And  evening  withered  ;  and  the  eyes,  and  smiles, 
And  faces  of  all  men  and  women  withered  ; 
Withered  to  him  ;  and  all  the  universe. 
Like  something  which  had  been,  appeared,  but  now 
Was  dead  and  mouldering  fast  away.     He  tried 
No  more  to  hope  :  wished  to  forget  his  vow  : 
Wished  to  forget  his  harp  :  then  ceased  to  wish. 
That  was  his  last.    Enjoyment  now  was  done. 
He  had  no  hope— no  wish — and  scarce  a  fear. 
Of  being  sensible,  and  sensible 
Of  loss,  he,  as  some  atom  seemed  which  God 
Had  made  superfluously,  and  needed  not 
To  build  creation  with  ;  but  back  again 
Tn  nothing  threw,  and  left  it  in  the  void, 
With  everlasting  sense  that  once  it  was. 


78  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Oh,  whn  can  tell  what  days,  what  nights  be  spent 
Of  tideless,  waveless,  saiDe'ss,  shoreless  wo  ! 
And  who  can  tell,  how  many,  glorious  once, 
To  others,  and  themselves  of  promise  full, 
Conducted  to  this  pass  of  human  thought, 
This  wilderness  of  intellectual  death, 
Wasted  and  pined,  and  vanished  from  the  earth, 
Leaving  no  vestige  of  memorial  there  ! 

It  was  not  so  with  him  :  when  thus  he  lay, 
Forlorn  of  heart,  withered  and  desolate. 
As  leaf  of  Autumn,  which  the  wolfish  winds. 
Selecting  from  its  falling  sisters,  chase 
Far  from  its  native  grove,  to  lifeless  wastes, 
And  leave  it  there  alone  to  be  forgotten 
Eternally— God  passed  in  mercy  by. 
His  praise  be  ever  new  !  and  on  hmi  breathed  ; 
And  bade  him  live  ;  and  put  into  his  hands 
A  holy  harp,  into  his  lips  a  song. 
That  rolled  its  numbers  down  the  tide  ot  Time. 
Ambitious  now  but  little  to  be  praised 
Of  men  alone  ;  ambitious  most  to  be 
Approveu  of  God,  the  Judge  of  all  ;  and  have 
His  name  recorded  in  the  book  of  life. 

Such  things  were  Disappointment,  and  Remorse: 
And  oft  united  both,  as  friends  severe, 
To  teach  men  wisdom  :  but  the  fool  untaught 
Was  foolish  still.    His  ear  he  stopped  ;  his  eyes 
He  shut ;  and  blindly,  deafly  obstinate, 
Forced  desperately  his  way  from  wo  to  wo. 

One  place,  one  only  place  there  was  on  earth, 
Where  no  inan  ere  was  fool — however  mad. 
"  Men  may  live  fools,  but  fools  they  cannot  die. 
Ah  !  'twas'  a  truth  most  true  ;  and  sung  in  time, 
And  to  the  sons  of  men.  by  one  well  known 
On  earth  for  lofty  verse,  and  lofty  sense. 


BOOK  IIL  79 

Much  hast  thou  seen,  fair  youth  !  much  heard  ;    but 

thou 
Hast  never  seen  a  death-bed,  never  heard 
A  dying  ^roan.     Men  saw  it  often  :  'twas  sad. 
To  all  most  sorrowful  and  sad — to  zuilt 
Tws!  anguish,  terror,  darkness  without  bo»^. 
But  O,  it  had  a  most  convincing  tongue, 
A  potent  oratory,  that  secured 
Most  mute  attention  :  and  it  spoke  the  truth 
So  boldly,  plainly,  perfectly  distinci, 
That  none  the  meaning  could  mistake,  or  doubt. 
And  had  withal  a  disenchanting  power, 
A  most  omnipotent  and  wondrous  power, 
Wnich  in  a  moment  brohe,  forever  broke, 
And  utterly  dissolved  the  charms,  and  spells. 
And  cunning  sorceries  of  Earth  and  Hell. 
And  thus  it  spoke  to  him  who  ghastly  lay. 
And  strusgled  for  another  breath  :  Earth's  cup 
Is  poisoned  :  Her  renown,  most  infamous  ; 
Her  gold,  seem  as  it  may,  is  really  dust ; 
Her  titles,  slanderous  names  ;  her  praise,  reproach  ; 
Her  strength  an  idiot's  boast ;  her  wisdom,  blind  ; 
Her  gain,  eternal  loss  ;  her  hope,  a  dream  ; 
Her  love,  her  friendship,  enmity  with  God  ; 
Her  promises,  a  lie  ;  her  smile,  a  harlot's  ; 
Her  beauty,  paint,  and  rotten  within  ;  her  pleasure, 
Deadly  assassins  masked  ;  her  laughter,  grief; 
Her  breasts,  the  sting  of  Death  ;  her  total  sum, 
Her  all,  most  utter  vanity  ;  and  all 
Her  lovers  mad  ;  insane  most  grievously  ; 
And  most  insane,  because  they  know  it  not. 

Thus  did  the  mighty  reasoner  Death  declare  ; 
And  volumes  more  :  and  in  one  word  confirmed 
The  Bible  whole— Eternity  is  all. 
But  few  spectators,  few  be'lieved  of  those 
Who  staid  behind.    The  wisest,  best  of  men 
Eeiieved  not  to  the  letter  full ;  but  turned, 
Aiid  on  the  world  looked  forth,  as  if  they  thought 


80  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

The  well  trimmed  hypocrite  had  something  still 
Of  inward  worth  :  the  dying  man  alone 
Gave  faithful  audience,  and  the  words  of  Death 
To  the  last  jot  believed  ;  believed  and  felt  ; 
But  oft.  alas  !   believed  and  felt  too  late. 

And  had  Earth  then  no  joys  ?  no  native  sweets. 
No  happiness,  that  one  who  spoke  the  truth 
Mi?ht  call  her  own  ?   Shehad;    true,  native  sweets  j 
Indigenous  delights,  which  up  the  Tree 
Of  holiness,  embracing  as  they  grew, 
Ascended,  and  bore  fruit  of  heavenly  taste : 
Jn  pleasant  memory  held,  and  talked  of  oft. 
By  yonder  Saints  who  walk  the  golden  streets 
Of  New-Jerusalem,  and  compass  round 
The  throne,  wish  nearest  vision  blest — of  these 
Hereafter  thou  shalt  hear,  delighted  hear  ; 
One  page  of  beauty  in  the  life  of  nun. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  IV. 

The  essence  of  earthly  liberty  and  independence 
was  united  with  lust  for  power  ;  each  sought  to 
make  all  subject  to  his  will,  while  real  liberly  was 
the  freedom  from  sin  ;  he  only  was  free,  whom  the 
truth  of  God  made  free. 

Strange  conflicts  exhibited  by  the  inconsistent  and  op- 
posite principles  of  the  Christian  heart.  Yet  final 
victory  was  found  on  the  side  of  holiness,  and,  after 
all  his  internal  struggles,  the  christian  was  triumph- 
ant, and  brought  lo  the  world  of  glory. 

The  Books  composed  in  Time,  together  with  their  au- 
thors, were  doomed  to  oblivion  under  the  curse 
which  returns  dust  to  dust. 

The  Books  entitled  "The  Medicine  of  the  Mind," 
which  were  written  for  the  help  of  virtue,  were 
alone  exempted  from  oblivion. 

The  inscrutable  and  mysterious  providences  of  God, 
why  deeds  decreed  were  accountable,  the  Trinity, 
and  Incarnation,  were  subjects,  which  Theology, 
Philosophy,  Fancy,  and  finite  wisdom,  toiled  in 
vain  to  comprehend. 

The  unequal  distribution  of  worldly  possessions  and 
intellectual  gifts,  plainly  taught  that  God  did  not  es- 
timate men  by  outward'  circumstances  only,  or  by 
their  knowledge,  but  by  their  moral  worth.  Illus- 
trated by  the  history  of  the  gifted  Byron. 


THE 

BOOK  IV. 


i  HE  world  had  louch  of  strange  and  wonderful 
In  passion  much,  in  action,  reason,  will  ; 
And  much  in  Providence,  which  still  retired 
From  human  eye,  and  led  philosophy. 
That  ill  her  ignorance  liked  to  own,  thro' dark 
And  dangerous  palhs  of  speculation  wild. 
Some  striking  features,  as  we  pass,  we  mark, 
In  order  such  as  memory  suggests. 

Oue  passion  prominent  appears  ! — the  lust 
Of  power,  which  oft-times  took  the  fairer  name 
Of  liberty,  and  hung  the  popular  flag 
Of  freedom  out.    Many  indeed,  its  names, 
When  on  the  throne  it  sat,  and  round  the  neck 
Of  millions  riveted  its  iron  chain, 
And  on  the  shoulders  of  the  people  laid 
Burdens  unmerciful — it  title  took 
Of  tyranny,  oppression,  despotism  ; 
And'every  tongue  was  weary  cursing  it. 
When  in  the  multitude  it  gathered  strepgtb. 
And,  like  an  ocean  bursting  from   its  bounds, 
Long  beat  in  vain,  went  forth  resistlessly, 
It  tiore  the  stamp  and  designation  then, 
Of  popular  fury,  anarchy,  rebellion — 
And  honest  men  bewailed  all  order  void  ; 
All  laws,  annulled  ;  all  property,  deatroyed  ; 
F2 


84  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME- 

The  venerable,  murdered  in  the  streets ; 
The  wise,  despised  ;  streams,  red  with  baman  blood, 
Harvests,  beneath  the  frantic  foot  trod  down  ; 
Lands  desolate  ;    and  famine,  at  the  door. 

These  are  a  part  ;  bat  other  names  it  had 
Innumerous  as  the  shapes  and  robes  it  wore. 
But  under  every  name — in  nature  still 
Invariably  the  same,  and  always  bad. 
We  own  indeed  that  oft  against  itself 
It  fought,  and  sceptre  both  and  people  gave 
An  equal  aid,  as  long  exemplified 
In  Albion's  isle — Albion,  queen  of  the  seas— 
And  in  the  struggle  something  like  a  kind 
Of  civil  liberty  Vew  up,  the  best 
Of  mere  terrestrial  root ;  but  sickly  too, 
And  living  only,  strange  to  tell  !  in  strife 
Of  factions  equally  contending  ;  dead. 
That  very  moment  dead  that  one  prevailed. 

Conflicting  cruelly  against  itself, 
By  its  own  hand  it  fell;  part  slaying  pari. 
And  men  who  noticed  not  the  suicide, 
Stood  wondering  much,  why  earth  from  age  to  ige. 
Was  still  enslaved,  and  erring  causes  gave. 

This  was  earth's  liberty — its  nature  this — 
However  named,  in  whomsoever  found, 
And  found  it  was  in  all  of  woman  born. 
Each  man  to  make  all  subject  to  his  will  ; 
To  make  them  do,  undo,  eat,  drink,  stand,  move, 
Talk,  think,  and  feel,  exactly  as  he  chose. 
Hence  the  eternal  strife  of  brotherhoods, 
Of  individuals,  families,  commonwealths. 
The  root  from  which  it  grew  was  pride — bad  root  1 
And  bad  the  fruit  it  bore.    Then  wonder  not 
That  long  the  nations  from  it  richly  reaped 
Oppression,  slavery,  tyranny,  and  war  ; 
CoofusioDj  desolation,  trouble,  shame. 


BOOK  IV.  85 

And  marvellouB  tho'  it  seem,  Ihis  monster,  when 

It  took  the  name  of  slavery,  as  oft 

It  did,  had  advocates  to  plead  its  cause ; 

BeJDgs  that  walked  erect,  and  spoke  like  men  ; 

Of  Christian  parentage  descended  too, 

And  dipt  in  the  baptismal  font,  as  sign 

Of  dedication  to  the  Prince  who  bowed 

To  death,  to  set  the  sin-bound  prisoner  free. 

Unchristian  thought  !  on  what  pretence  ioe'er 
Of  right  inherited,  or  else  acquired  ; 
Of  loss,  or  profit,  or  what  plea  you  name, 
To  buy  and  sell,  to  barter,  whip,  and  hold 
In  chains  a  being  of  celestial  make — 
Of  kindred  form,  of  kindred  faculties. 
Of  kindred  feelings,  passions,  thoughts,  desires ; 
Born  free,  and  htir  of  an  immortal  hope  ! — 
Thought  villanous,  absurd,  detestable  ! 
Unworthy  to  be  harbored  in  a  fiend  ! 
And  only  overreached  in  wickedness 
By  that,  birth  too  of  earthly  liberty. 
Which  aimed  to  make  a  reasonable  man 
By  legislation  think,  and  by  the  sword 
Believe.     This  was  that  liberty  renowned. 
Those  equal  rights  of  Greece  and  Rome,  where  men, 
All,  but  a  few,  were  bought,  and  sold,  and  scourged. 
And  killed,  as  interest  or  caprice  enjoined  : 
In  afiertimes  talked  of,  written  of  so  much, 
That  most  by  sound,  and  custom  led  away, 
Believed  the  essence  answered  to  the  name. 
Historians  on  this  theme  were  long  and  warm  ; 
Statesmen,  drunk  with  the  fumes  of  vain  debate, 
In  lofty  swelling  phrase,  called  it  perfection  ; 
Philosophers  its  rise,  advance,  and  fall 
Traced  carefully  ;  and  poets  kindled  still. 
As  memorv^brought  it  up  ;  their  lips  were  toached 
With  fire,  and  uttered  words  that  men  adored, 
Kven  he — true  bard  of  Zion,  holy  man  1 
To  whom  the  Bible  taught  this  precious  verse  • 


86  THE  COURSE  OF  TttlE. 

"He  is  <he  freeman  whom  the  truth  makes  free," 

By  fashion,  the'  by  fashion  little  swayed, 

Scarce  kept  his  heart  from  pa^an  freedom's  praise; 

The  captive  prophet,  whom  Jehovah  gare 
The  future  years,  described  it  best,  when  he 
Beheld  it  rise  in  vision  of  the  night — 
A  dreadful  beast,  and  terrible,  and  strong 
Exceedingly,  with  mighty  iron  teeth  ; 
And  io,  it  brake  in  pieces,  and  devonred, 
And  stamped  the  residue  beneath  its  feet ! 

True  liberty  was  christian,  sanctified, 
Baptised,  and  found  in  Christian  hearts  alone. 
First  born  of  Virtue  I  daughter  of  the  skies  ! 
Nursling  of  truth  divine  1  sister  of  all 
The  graces,  meekness,  holiness,  and  love  : 
Giving  to  God,  and  man,  and  all  below. 
That  symptom  showed  of  sensible  existence, 
Their  due  unasked  ;  fear  to  whom  fear  was  due  ; 
To  all,  respect,  benevolence,  and  love. 
Companion  of  religion  !  where  she  came 
There  freedom  came  ;   where  dwelt,  there  freedom 

dwelt  ; 
Ruled  where  she  ruled,  expired  where  she  expired. 

"He  was  the  freeman  whom  the  truth  made  free  :" 
Who  first  of  all,  the  bands  of  Satan  broke  ; 
Who  broke  the  bands  of  Sin  ;  and  for  his  soal, 
In  spite  of  fools  consulted  seriously  ; 
In  spite  of  fashion  persevered  in  good  j 
In  spite  of  wealth  or  poverty,  upright  j 
Who  did  as  reason,  not  as  fancy  bade  ; 
Who  heard  temptation  sing,  and  yet  turned  not 
Aside  ;  saw  sin  bedeck  her  flowery  bed. 
And  yet  would  not  go  up  ;  felt  at  his  heart 
The  sword  unsheathed,  yet  would  not  sell  the  truth  ; 
Who,  having  power,  had  not  the  will  to  hurt  ; 
Who  blushed  alike  to  be,  or  have  a  slave  ; 


BOOK  rV.  87 

Who  blnshed  at  naught  but  sin.feared  naught  but  God; 

Who,  finally,  in  strong  integrity 

Of  soul,  'midst  want,  or  riches,  or  disgrace, 

Uplifted  calmiy  eat,  and  heard  the  waves 

Of  stormy  folly  breaking  at  his  feet ; 

Nowshrill  with  praise,now  hoarse  with  foul  reproachj 

And  both  despised  sincerely  ;  seeking  this 

Alone — the  approbation  of  his  God, 

Which  still  with  conscience  witnessed  to  his  peace. 

This,  this  is  freedom,  such  as  angels  use, 
And  kindred  to  the  liberty  cf  God. 
First  born  of  Virtue  !  daughter  of  the  skies  ! 
The  man,  the  slate  in  whom  she  ruled,  was  free ; 
All  else  were  slaves  cf  Satan,  Sin,  and  Death. 

Already  thou  hast  something  heard  of  good 
And  ill,  of  vice  and  virtue,  perfect  each  : 
Of  those  redeemed,  or  else  abandoned  quite  ; 
And  more  shalt  hear,  when  at  the  judgment  day 

The  characters  we  of  mankind  review. 

Seems  aught  which  thou  hast  heard  astonishing  ? 

A  greater  wonder  now  thy  audience  asks  : 

Phenomenon  in  all  the  universe 

Of  moral  being  most  anomalous  ; 

Ineiplicable  most,  and  wonderful. 

I'll  introduce  thee  to  a  single  heart  ; 

A  human  heart  :  we  enter  not  the  worst ; 

But  one  by  God's  renewing  Spirit  touched  ; 

A  christian  heart,  awaked  from  sleep  of  sin. 

What  seest  thou  here  ?  what  mark'st?  observe  it  wclU 

Will,  passion,  reason;  hopes,  fears  ;  joy,  distress  ; 

Peace,  turbulence  ;  simplicity,  deceit  j 

Good,  ill ;  corruption,  immortality. 

A  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  yet 

Oft  lodging  fiends  ;  the  dwelling  place  of  all 

The  heavenly  virtues— charily  and  truth, 

Humility,  and  holiness,  and  love  ; 

And  yet  the  common  haunt  of  anger,  pride, 


88  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Hatred,  revenge,  and  passions  foul  with  lust : 

Allied  to  heaven,  yet  parleying  oft  with  hell : 

A  soldier  listed  in  Messiah's  band. 

Yet  giving  quarter  to  Abaddon's  troops  : 

With  seraph's  drinking  from  the  well  of  life, 

And  yet  carousing  in  the  cup  of  death  : 

An  heir  of  heaven,  and  walking  thitherward, 

Yet  casting  back  a  covetous  eye  on  earth  : 

Emblena  of  strength,  and  weakness  ;  loving  now 

And  now  abhorring  sin  ;  indulging  now. 

And  now  repenting  sore  ;  rejoicing  now. 

With  joy  unspeakable,  auad  full  of  glory  ; 

Now  weeping  bitterly,  and  clothed  in  dust. 

A  man  williog  to  do,  and  doing  not ; 

Doing,  and  willing  not  ;  embracing  what 

He  hates,  what  most  he   loves  abandoning. 

Half  saint,  and  sinner  half— half  life,  half  death: 

Commixture  strange  of  heaven,  and  earth,  and  hell ! 

What  seest  thou  here  ?  what  mark'st?  a  battle-field; 
Two  banners  spread  ;  two  dreadful  fronts  of  war 
In  shock  of  opposition  fierce  engaged — 
God,  angels,  saw  whole  empires  rise  in  arms  ; 
Saw  Kings  exalted  ;  heard  them  tumbled  down  ; 
And  others  raised,— and  heeded  not :  but  here, 
God,  angels,  looked  ;  God,  angels,  fought ;  and  Hell, 
With  all  his  legions,  fought  :  here  error  fought 
With  truth;  with  darkneis  light;  and  life  with  death  I 
And  here  not  kingdoms,  reputations,  worlds, 
Were  won  ;  the  strife  was  for  eternity  ; 
The  victory  was  never-ending  bliss  ; 
The  badge  a  chaplet  from  the  tree  of  life. 

While  thus  within  contending  armies  strove, 
Without  the  Christian  had  his  troubles  too. 
For,  as  by  God's  unalterable  laws. 
And  ceremonial  of  the  heaven  of  heavens. 
Virtue  takes  place  of  all,  and  worthiest  deeds 
Sit  highest  at  the  feast  of  bliss  ;  on  Earth 


The  opposite  was  fashion's  rule  polite. 

Virtue  the  lowest  place  at  table  took, 

Or  served,  or  was  shut  out :  the  Christian  still 

Was  mocljed,  derided,  persecuted,  slain  : 

And  slander,  worse  than  mockery,  or  sword, 

Or  death,  stood  nightly  by  her  horrid  forge, 

And  fabricated  lies  to  stain  his  name, 

And  wound  his  peace — but  still  he  bad  a  eouTca 

Of  happiness,  that  men  could  neither  give 

Nor  take  away  :  the  avenues  that  led 

To  immortality  before  him  lay  ; 

He  saw,  with  faith's  far  reaching  eye,  the  fount 

Of  life,  his  Father's  house,  his  Saviour  God, 

And  borrowed  thence  to  help  his  present  want. 

Encountered  thus  with  enemies  without. 
Within,  like  bark  that  meets  opposing  winds 
And  floods,  this  way,  now  that,  she  steers  athwart : 
Tossed  by  the  wave,  and  driven  by  the  storm  ; 
But  still  the  pilot,  ancient  at  the  helm, 
The  harbor  keeps  in  eye  ;  and  after  much 
Of  danger  past,  and  many  a  prayer  rude. 
He  runs  her  safely  in— So  was  the  man 
Of  God  beset,  so  tossed  by  adverse  winds  ; 
And  so  his  eye  upon  the  land  of  life 
He  kept.    Virtue  grew  daily  stronger,  sin 
Decayed  ;  his  enemies  repulsed,  retired  ; 
Till  at  the  stature  of  a  perfect  man 
In  Christ  arrived,  and  with  the  Spirit  filled, 
He  gained  the  harbor  of  eternal  rest.' 

But  think  not  virtue  else  than  dwells  in  God 
Essentially,  was  perfect,  without  spot. 
Examine  yonder  suns  !  at  distance  seen, 
How  bright  they  bum  !  how  gloriously  they  shine. 
Mantling  the  worlds  around  in  beamy  light  ! 
But  nearer  viewed,  we  through  their  lustre  iee 
Some  dark  behind  :  so  virtue  was  on  earth, 
So  is  in  heaven,  and  so  shall  always  be, 


90  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Thongh  good  it  seem,  immaculate,  and  feir, 

ExceediDgly  to  saint  or  angeKs  gaze, 

The  uncreated  Eye,  that  searches  all, 

Sees  it  imperfect  ;  sees,  but  blames  not ;  sees, 

Well-pleased  ;  and  best  witti  these  who  deepest  dive 

Into  themselves,  and  know  themjelves  the  most : 

Taught  thence  in  humbler  reverence  to  bow 

Before  the  Holy  One  ;  and  oftener  view 

His  excellence,  that  in  them  still  may  rise, 

And  grow  bis  likeness,  growing  evermore. 

Nor  think  that  any,  bom  of  Adam's  race, 
In  his  own  proper  virtue,  entered  heaven. 
Once  fallen  from  God  and  perfect  holiness. 
No  being,  unassisted,  ere  could  rise 
Or  sanctify,  the  sin-polluted  soul. 
Oft  was  the  trial  made;  bat  vainly  made. 
So  oft  as  men  in  Earth's  best  livery  clad, 
However  fair,  approached  the  gates  of  heaven. 
And  s'ood  presented  to  the  eye  of  God, 
Their  impious  pride  so  oft  his  soul  abhorred. 
Vain  hope  !  in  patch-work  of  terrestrial  grain, 
To  be  received  into  the  courts  above  ; 
As  vain,  as  towards  yonder  suns  to  soar, 
On  wing  of  waxen  plumage  melting  soon. 

Look  round,  and  see  those  numbers  infinite, 
That  stand  before  the  throne,  and  in  the     bands 


Redeemed,  the  ransomed  of  the  Lamb  of  God  ! 
All  these,  and  millions  more  of  kindred  blood, 
Who  now  are  out  on  messages  of  love — 
All  these — their  virtue,  beauty,  excellence, 
And  joy,  are  purchase  of  redeeming  blood  ; 
Their  glory,  bounty  of  redeeming  love. 


Sbout,  angels !  shout  aloud,  ye  sons  of  men  ! 


And  burn  ray  heart  with  the  eternal  flame  ! 

My  lyre  be  eloquent  with  endless  praise  ! 

O  love  divine  !  immeasurable  love  ! 

Stooping  from  heaven  to  earth,  from  earth  to  hell, 

Without  beginning,  endless,  boundless  love  1 

Above  all  asking,  giving  far  to  those 

Who  naught  deserved,  who  naught  deserved  but  death, 

Saving  the  vilest  I  saving  me  !  0  love 

Divine  !  0  Saviour  God  !  0  Lamb  once  slain  ! 

At  thought  of  thee,   thy  love,  thy  flowing  blood, 

All  thoughts  decay  ;  all  things  remembered,  fade  ; 

All  hopes  return  ;  all  actions  done  by  men 

Or  angels  disappear,  absorbed  and  lost  : 

All  fly— as  from  the  great  white  throne,  which  he, 

The  prophet,  saw,  in  vision  wrapped — the  heavens. 

And  earth,  and  sun,  and  moon,  and  starry  host. 

Confounded  fled,  and  found  a  place  no  more. 

One  glance  of  wonder,  as  we  pass,  deserve 
The  books  cf  Time.     Productive  was  the  world 
In  many  things  ;  but  most  in  books  :  like  swarms 
Of  locusts,  which  God  sent  to  vex  a  land 
Rebellious  long,  admonished  long  in  vain,         «( 
Their  numbers  they  poured  annually  on  man. 
From  heads  conceiving  still  :  perpetual  birth  ! 
Thou  wonderest,  how  the  world  contained  them  all  ! 
Thy  wonder  stay  :  like  men,  this  was  their  doom  :— 
That  dust  they  were,  and  should  lo  dust  return. 
And  oft  their  fathers,  childless  and  bereaved, 
Wept  o'er  their  graves,  when  they  themselves  were 

green  ; 
And  on  them  fell,  as  fell  on  every  age, 
As  on  their  authors  full,   oblivious  Night, 
Which  o'er  the  past  lay  darkling,  heavy,  still, 
Impenetrable,  mniionless,  and  sad. 
Having  his  dismal  leaden  plumage,  stirred 
Bv  no  remembrancer,  to  show  the  men 
Who  after  canoe  what  was  concealed  beneath. 


92  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

The  story-tellin?  tribe  alone,  outran 
All  calculation  far,  and  left  behind, 
Lagging,  the  swiftest  numbers:  dreadful,  even 
To  fancy,  was  their  never  ceasing  birth  ; 
And  room  had  lacked,  had  not  their  life  been  short. 
Excepting  some — their  definition  take 
Thou  thus,  exprest  in  gentle  phrase,  which  leaves 
Some  truth  behind: — A  Novel  was  a  book 
Three-volumed,  and  once  read;  and  oft  crammed  full 
Of  poisonous  error,  blackening  every  page; 
And  oftener  still  of  trifling,  second-hand 
Remark,  and  old,  diseased^  putrid  thought; 
And  miserable  incident,  at  war 
With  nature,  with  itself,  and  truth  at  war  : 
Tet  charming  still  the  greedy  reader  on, 
Till  done — he  tried  to  recollect  his  thoughts, 
And  nothing  found,  but  dreaming  emptiness. 
These,  like  ephemera  sprung  in  a  day, 
.  From  lean  and  shallow  soiled  brains  of  sand, 
And  in  a  day  expired  :  yet  while  they  lived, 
Tremendous  oftimes  was  the  popular  roar  ; 
And  cries  of— Live  for  ever — struck  the  skies. 

One  kind  alone  remained,  seen  thro'  the  gloom, 
And  sullen  shadow  of  the  past  ;  as  lights 
At  intervals  they  shone,  and  brought  the  eye, 
That  backward  travelled,  upward,  till  arrived 
At  him,  who  on  the  hills  of  Midian,  sang 
The  patient  man  of  Uz  ;  and  from  the  lyre 
Of  angels,  learned  the  early  dawn  of  Time. 
Not  light  and  momentary  latior  thete, 
But  discipline  and  self-denial  lone, 
And  purpose  staunch,  and  perseverance,  asked. 
And  energy  that  inspiration  seemed. 
Composed  of  many  thoughts,  possessing  each, 
Innate  and  underived  vitality  : 
Which  having  fi'ly  shaped,  and  well  arranged 
In  brotherly  accord,   they  builded  up> — 
A  stalely  superstructure,  that,  nor  wind, 


BOOK  rv. 

Nor  wave,  nor  shock  of  falling  years  could  move  ; 
Majestic  and  indissolubly  firm  ; 
As  ranks  of  veteran  vparriors  in  the  field  ; 
Each  by  himself  alone,  and  singly  seen — 
A  tower  of  strength  ;  in  massy  phalanx  knit, 
And  in  embattled  squadron  rushing  on — 
A  sea  of  valor,  dread  '.  invincible  ! 
Books  of  this  sort,  or  sacred,  or  profane, 
Which  virtue  helped,  were  titled  not  amiss, 
The  medicine  of  the  mind  :  who  read  them  read 
Wisdom,  and  was  refreshed  ;  and  on  his  path 
Of  pilgrimage  with  healthier  step  advanced. 

In  mind,  in  matter,  much  was  difiScult 
To  understand  :  but  what  in  deepest  night 
Retired  ;  inscrutable,  mysterious,  dark. 
Was  evil  ;  God's  decrees  ;  and  deeds  decreed, 
Responsible.     Why  God,  the  j  ust,  and  good, 
Omnipotent  and  wise,  should  suffer  sin 
To  rise.     Why  man  was  free,  accountable  ; 
Vet  God  foreseeing,  overruling  all. 
Where'er  the  eye  could  turn,  whatever  track        M 
Of  moral  thought  it  took,  by  reason's  torch,         m 
Or  scripture's  led,  before  it  still  this  mount      J*| 
Sprung  up,  impervious,  insurmountable  ; 
Above  the  human  stature  rising  far  ; 
Horizon  of  the  mind— surrounding  still 
The  vision  of  the  soul  with  clouds  and  gloom. 
Yet  did  they  oft  attempt  to  scale  its  sides, 
And  gain  its  top.     Philosophy,  to  climb 
With  all  her  vigor,  toiled  from  age  to  age  ; 
From  age  to  age.  Theology,  with  all 
Her  vigor  toiled  ;  and  vagrant  fancy  toiled.' 
Not  weak  and  foolish  only,  but  the  wise. 
Patient,  courageous,  stout,  sound-headed  men, 
Of  proper  discipline,  of  excellent  wind, 
And  Strong  of  intellectual  limb,  toiled  hard  ; 
And  oft  a&ve  the  reach  of  common  eye 
Ascended  far,  and  seemed  well  nigh  the  top  ; 


91  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

BqI  only  seemed  ;  for  still  another  top 

Above  them  rose,  till  giddy  grown  and  mad, 

With  gazing  at  these  dangerous  heights  of  God, 

They  tumbled  down,  and  in  their  raving  said, 

They  o'er  the  summit  saw  :  and  some  believed  ; 

Believed  a  lie  ;  for  never  man  on  earth, 

That  mountain  crossed,  or  saw  its  farther  side. 

Around  it  lay  the  wreck  of  many  a  Sage — 

Divine — Philosopher  ;  and  many  more 

Fell  daily,  undeterred  by  millions  fallen  ; 

Each  wondering  why  he  failed  to  comprehend 

God,  and  with  finite  measure  infinite. 

To  pass  it  was  no  doabt  desirable  ; 

And  few  of  any  intellectual  size, 

That  did  not  sometime  in  their  day  attempt ; 

Bui  all  in  vain  ;  for  as  the  distant  hill, 

Which  on  the  right,  or  left  the  traveller's  eye 

Bounds,  seems  advancing  as  he  walKs,  and  oft 

He  looks,  and  looks,  and  thinks  to  pass  ;  but  still 

Ii  forward  moves,  and  mocks  his  baffled  sight. 

Till  night  descends  and  wraps  the  scene  in  gloom  : 

So  did  this  moral  height  the  vision  mock  ; 

So  41^  up  its  dark  and  cloudy  head. 

Before  the  eye,  and  met  it  evermore. 

And  some  provoked — accused  the  righteous  God. 

Accused  of  what?  hear  human  boldness  now  ! 

Hear  guilt,  hear  folly,  madness,  all  eilreme  ! 

Accused  of  what  ?  the  God  of  truth  accused  ? 

Of  cruelty,  injustice,  wickedness  ! 

Abundant  sin  !  Because  a  mortal  man, 

A  worm  at  best  of  small  capacity, 

With  scarce  an  atom  of  Jehovah's  works 

Before  him,  and  with  scarce  an  hour  to  look 

Upon  them,  should  presume  to  censure  God — 

The  infinite  and  uncreated  God  ! 

To  sit  in  judgment — on  Himself,  his  works, 

His  providence  !  and  try,  accuse,  condemn  ! 

If  there  is  aught,  thought  or  to  think,  absurd. 

Irrational,  and  wicked,  this  i 


BOOK  IV,  £« 

This  most ;  the  sin  of  devils,  or  of  those 
To  devils  growing  fast :  wise  men  and  good, 
Accused  themselves,  not  God  ;  and  put  their  banda 
Upon  their  mouths  and  in  the  dust  adored. 

The  Christian's  faith  had  many  mysteries  loo. 
The  uncreated  holy  Three  in  Oae  ; 
Divine  incarnate  ;  human  in  divine  ; 
The  inward  call  ;'  the  sanctifying  Dew 
Coming  unseen,  unseen  departing  thence  ; 
Anew  creating  all,  and  yet  not  heard  ; 
Compelling,  yet  not  felt : — mysterious  these  ; 
Not  that  Jehovah  to  conceal  them  wished  ; 
Not  that  religion  wished  :  the  Christian  faith, 
Unlike  Ihe  timorous  creeds  of  pagan  priests, 
Was  frank,  stood  forth  to  view,  invited  all, 
To  prove,  examine,  search,  investigate. 
And  gave  herself  a  light  to  see  her  by. 
Mysterious  these — because  too  large  for  eye 
Of  man,  too  long  for  human  arm  to  mete. 

Go  to  yon  mount,  which  on  the  north  side  stands 
Of  New  Jerusalem,  and  lifts  its  head 
Serene  in  glory  bright,  except  the  hill, 
The  Sacred  Hill  of  God,  whereon  no  foot 
Must  tread,  highest  of  all  creation's  walks, 
And  overlooking  all  in  prospect  vast, 
From  out  the  etherial  blue— that  cliff  ascend  ; 
Gaze  thence;  around  thee  look  ;  sought  now  impedes 
Thy  view;   yet  still  thy  vision,  purified 
And  strong  although  it  be,  a  boundary  meets. 
Or  rather  thou  wilt  say,  thy  vision  fail* 
To  gaze  throughout  illimitable  space. 
And  find  the  end  of  infinite  :  and  so 
It  was  with  all  the  mysteries  of  faith  ; 
God  set  them  forth  unveiled  to  the  full  gaze 
Of  man,  and  asked  him  to  investigate  ; 
But  reason's  eye,  however  purified, 
And  on  whatever  tall,  and  goodly  height 


96  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  observation  placed,  fo  comprehend 
Then  fully  sought  in  vain.    In  vain  seeks  still ; 
But  wiser  now  and  humbler,  she  concludes 
From  what  she  knows  aiready  of  his  iove. 
All  gracious,  which  she  cannot  understand  ; 
And  gives  him  credit,  reverence,  praise  for  all. 

Another  feature  in  the  ways  of  God, 
That  wondrous  seemed,  and  made  some  men  complain, 
Was  the  unequal  gift  of  worldly  things. 
Great  was  the  difference  indeed  of  men 
Externally,  from  beggar  to  the  prince. 
The  highest  take,  and  lowest — and  conceive 
The  scale  between.    A  noble  of  the  earth. 
One  of  its  great,  in  splendid  mansion  dwelt ; 
Was  robed  in  silk  and  gold  ;  and  every  day 
Fared  sumptuously  ;  was  titled,  honored,  served. 
Thousands  his  nod  awaited,  and  his  will 
For  law  received  :  whole  provinces  his  march 
Attended,  and  his  chariot  drew,  or  on 
Their  shoulders  bore  aloft  the  precious  man. 
Millions,  abased,  fell  prostrate  at  his  feet  ; 
And  millions  more  thundered  adoring  praise. 
As  far  as  eye  could  reach,  he  called  the  land 
His  oWn,  and  added  yearly  to  his  fields. 
iiike  tree  that  of  the  soil  took  healthy  root. 
He  grew  on  every  side,  and  towered  on  high, 
And  over  half  a  nation  shadowing  wide 
He  spread  his  ample  boughs  :  air,  earth,  and  sea, 
Katore  entire,  the  brute,  and  rational, 
To  please  him  ministered,  and  vied  among 
TTiemselves,  who  most  should  his  desires  prevent, 
Watching  the  moving  of  his  rising  thoughts 
Attentively,  and  ha3tin_g  to  fulfil. 
His  palace  rose  and  kissed  the  gorgeous  clouds  : 
Streams  bent  their  music  to  his  will ;  trees  spnuig ; 
The  naked  waste  put  on  luxuriant  robes ; 
And  plains  of  happy  cottages  cast  out 
Their  tenants,  and  became  a  hunting  field. 


BOOK  IV.  9 

Before  him  bowed  the  distant  isles,  with  fruits 

And  spices  rare  ;  the  south  her  treasures  brought 

The  east  ajid  west  sent  ;  and  the  frigid  north 

Caine  with  her  offering  of  glossy  furs. 

Musicians  soothed  his  ear  with  airs  select ; 

Beauty  held  out  her  arms ;  aud  every  man 

Of  cunning  skill,  and  curious  device, 

And  endless  multitudes  of  liveried  wights, 

His  pleasure  waited  with  obsequious  looL. 

And  when  the  wan's  of  nature  were  supplied, 

And  common-place  extravagances  filled. 

Beyond  their  asking  ;  and  caprice  itself, 

In  all  itszigzag  appetites,  gorged  full, — 

The  roan,  new  wants,  and  new  expensej  planned  : 

Nor  planned  alone  :  wise,  learned,  sobei  men, 

Of  cogitation  deep,  took  up  his  case  : 

And  planned  for  him  new  modes  of  folly  wild  : 

Contrived  new  w.shes  wants,  and  wondrous  means 

Of  spending  with  despatch  :  yet  after  all. 

His  fields  extended  still,  his  riches  grew. 

And  what  seemed  splendor  infinite,  increasea. 

So  lavishly  upon  a  single  man 

Did  Providence  his  bounties  daily  shower. 

Turn  now  thy  eye,  and  look  on  poverty  ! 
Look  on  the  lowest  of  her  ragged  sons  1 
We  find  him  by  the  way,  sitting  in  dust ; 
He  has  no  bread  to  eat,  no  tongue  to  ask  ; 
No  limbs  to  walk  ;  no  home,  no  house,  no  fiiend. 
Observe  his  goblin  cheek  ;  his  wretched  eye  ; 
See  how  his  band,  if  any  hand  he  has, 
Involuntary  opens,  and  trembles  forth,     • 
As  comes  the  traveller's  foot  :  and  bear  his  groan, 
His  long  and  hmen^able  groan,  announce 
The  want  that  guaws  within  :  severely  now 
The  sun  scorches  and  burns  his  old  bald  head ; 
The  frost  now  glues  him  to  the  chilly  earth  ; 
On  him  hail,  rain,  and  tempest,  rudely  beat  -• 
And  lU  the  winds  of  heaven,  in  jocular  mood, 
G 


98  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Sport  with  his  withered  rags,  that,  tossed  about, 

Display  his  nakedDess  to  passers  by, 

And  grievously  burlesque  the  human  form. 

Observe  him  yet  more  narrowly  :  hiS  limbs, 

VVilh  palsy  shaken,  about  him  blasted  lie  ; 

And  all  h  s  flesh  is  full  of  putrid  sores. 

And  noisome  wounds,  his  bones  of  racking  pains. 

Strange  vesture  this  for  an  immortal  soul ! 

Strange  retinue  to  wait  a  lord  of  earth  ! 

It  seems  as  nature,  in  some  surly  mood, 

After  debate  and  musing  long,  had  tried, 

How  vile  and  miserable  thing  her  hand 

Could  fabricate,  then  made  this  meagre  man. 

A  sight  so  full  of  perfect  nwsery, 

That  passengers  their  faces  turned  away, 

And  hasted  to  be  gone  ;  and  delicate 

And  tender  women  took  another  path. 

This  great  disparity  of  outward  things 
Taught  many  lessons  ;  but  this  taught  in  chief. 
Though  learned  by  few  :  that  God  no  value  set. 
That  man  should  lione,  on  goods  of  worldly  kind  j 
On  transitory,  frail,  external  things, 
Of  migratory,  ever  changing  sort. 
And  further  taught,  that  in  the  soul  alone. 
The  thinking,  reasonable,  willing  soul, 
God  placed  the  total  excellence  of  man  ; 
And  meant  him  evermore  to  seek  it  there. 

But  stranger  still  the  distribution  seemed 
Of  intellect  ;  though  fewer  here  complained  ; 
Each  with  his  share,  upon  the  whole,  content. 
One  man  there  was, — and  many  such  you  migh. 
Have  met — who  never  had  a  dozen  thoughts 
in  all  his  life,  and  never  changed  their  course  ; 
But  told  them  o'er,  each  in  its  'customed  place, 
From  morn  till  night,  from  youth  till  hoary  age. 
Littlp  above  the  ox  which  grazed  the  field 
His  reason  rose  :  m  weak  his  memory. 


BOOK  17.  93 

The  name  his  mother  called  him  by,  he  scarce 

Remembered  ;  and  his  judement  so  untaught, 

That  what  at  evening  played  alon?  the  swamp, 

Fantastic,  clad  in  robe  of  fiery  hue. 

He  thought  the  devil  in  disguise,  and  fled 

With  qaivering  heart,  and  winged  footsteps  home. 

The  word  philosophy  he  never  heard, 

Or  science  ;  never  heard  of  liberty. 

Necessity  ;  or  laws  of  gravitation  : 

And  never  had  an  unbelieving  doubt. 

Beyond  his  native  vale  he  never  looked  ; 

But  thought  the  visual  line,  that  girt  him  round, 

The  world's  extreme  :  and  thought  the  silver  moon. 

That  nishtly  o'er  him  led  her  virgin  host, 

Ko  broader  than  bis  father's  shield.     He  lived— 

Lived  where  his  father  lived — died  where  he  died  ; 

Lived  happy,  and  died  happy,  and  was  saved. 

Be  not  surprised.    He-  loved,'  and  served  his  God. 

There  was  another,  large  of  understanding, 
Of  memory  infinite,  of  judgment  deep  : 
Who  knew  all  learning,  and  all  science  knew; 
And  all  phenomena  in  heaven  and  earth. 
Traced  to  their  causes  ;  traced  the  labyrinths 
Of  thought,  association,  passion,  will  j 
And  all  the  subtle,  nice  affinities 
Of  matter,  traced  ;  its  virtues,  motions,  laws ; 
And  most  familiarly  and  deeply  talked 
Of  mental,  moral,  natural,  divine. 
Leaving  the  earth  at  will,  he  soared  to  heaven, 
And  read  theglorious  visions  of  the  skies ; 
And  to  the  music  of  the  rolling  spheres 
Intelligently  listened  ;  and  gazed  far  back, 
Into  the  awful  depths  of  Deity. 
Did  all  that  mind  assisted  most  could  do  ; 
And  yet  iu  misery  lived,  in  misery  died, 
Because  he  wanted  holiness  of  heart. 


100  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  nearer  cut  the  branches  of  their  pride  : 
That  not  in  menial,  but  in  moral  worth, 
God,  excellence  placed  ;  and  only  to  the  good, 
To  virtue  granted  happiness  alone. 

Admire  the  goodness  of  Almighty  God  ! 
He  riches  gave,  he  intellectual  strensth 
To  few,  and  therefore  none  consmands  to  be, 
Or  rich,  or  learned  ;  nor  promises  reward 
Of  peace  to  these.    On  all.  He  moral  worth 
Bestowed ;  and  moral  tribute  asked  from  all. 
And  who  that  could  not  pay  ?  who  born  so  poor, 
Of  intellect  so  mean,  as  not  lo  know 
What  seemed  the  best;  and  knowing,  might  not  do? 
As  not  to  know  what  God  and  conscience  bade, 
And  what  they  bade  not  able  to  obey? 
And  he  who  acted  thus  fulfilled  the  law 
Eternal,  and  its  promise  reaped  of  peace: 
Found  peace  this  way  ajone  :  who  sought  it  else, 
Sought  mellow  grapes  beneath  the  icy  pole; 
Sought  blooming  roses  on  the  cheek  of  death; 
Sought  substance  in  a  world  of  fleeting  shades. 

Take  one  example ;  to  our  purpose  quite. 
A  man  of  rank,  and  of  capacious  soul  ; 
Who  riches  had,  and  fame  beyond  desire ; 
An  heir  of  flattery,  to  titles  born. 
And  reputation,  and  luxurious  life. 
Yet  not  content  with  ancestorial  name ; 
Or  to  be  known,  because  fathers  his  were; 
He  on  this  height  hereditary  stood, 
And  sazing  higher,  purposed  in  his  heart 
To  take  another  step.     Above  him  seemed 
Alone  the  mount  of  Song— the  lofty  seat 
Of  canonized  bards;  and  thitherward, 
By  nature  taught,  and  inward  melody, 
III  prime  of  youth,  he  bent  his  eagle  eye. 
No  cost  was  spared.  What  Ixxjks  he  wished,  he  read ; 
What  sage  to  hear,  he  heard  :  what  scenes  to  see, 


BOOK  IV.  101 

He  saw.    And  first  in  rambling  school-boy  days, 
Brittannia's  mountain-walks,  and  heath-girt  lakes, 
And  story-tell  in?  glens,  and  founts,  and  brooks  ; 
And  uiaids,  as  dew-drops  pure  and  fair,  his  soul 
With  grandeur  filled,  and  melody,  and  love. 
Then  travel  came,  and  took  him  where  he  wished, 
He  cities  saw,  and  cuurts,  and  princely  pomp  : 
And  mused  alone  on  ancient  mountain  brows  ; 
And  mused  on  battle-fields,  where  valor  fought 
In  other  days  ;  and  mused  on  ruins  grey 
With  years  :  and  drank  from  old  and  fabulous  wells 
And  plucked  the  vine  that  first  born  prophets  plucked, 
And  mused  on  famous  tombs  ;  and  on  the  wave 
Of  ocean  mused  ;  and  on  the  desert  waste. 
The  heavens,  and  earth  of  every  country  saw  : 
Where'er  Ihe  old  inspiring  Genii  dwelt. 
Aught  that  could  rouse,  expand,  refine  Ihe  soul, 
Thither  he  went,  and  meditated  there. 

He  touched  his  harp,  and  nations  heard,  entranced. 
As  some  vast  river  of  unfailing  source, 
Bapid,  exhaustless,  deep,  his  numbers  flowed, 
And  opened  new  fountains  in  the  human  heart. 
Where  fancy  halted,  weary  in  her  flight. 
In  other  men,  his  fresh  as  morning  rose. 
And  soared  untrodden  heights,  and  seemed  at  home, 
Where  angels  bashful  looked.     Others,  tho'  great. 
Beneath  their  argument  seemed  struggling;whiles 
He  from  above  descending,  stooped  to  touch 
The  loftiest  thought ;  and  proudly  stooped,  as  tho' 
It  scarce  deserved  his  verse.     With  Nature's  sslf 
He  seemed  an  old  acquaintance,  free  to  jest 
At  will  with  all  her  glorious  majesty. 
He  laid  his  hand  upon  "  Ihe  Ocean's  mane.'.' 
And  played  familiar  with  his  hoary  locks. 
Stood  on  the  Alps,  stood  on  the  Appenines, 
And  with  the  thunder  talked,  as  friend  to. friend  ; 
And  wove  his  garland  of  the  lightning's  wing. 
In  sportive  twist— Ihe  lightning's  fiery  wing, 


102  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Which,  as  the  footsteps  of  the  dreadful  God, 

Marching  upon  the  storm  in  vengeance  seemed — 

Then  turned,  and  with  the  grasshopper,  who  sung 

Kis  evening  song  beneath  his  feet,  conversed. 

Suns,  moons,  and  stars,  and  clouds  his  sisters  were  ; 

Rocks,  mountains,  meteors,  sea3,and  wind8,and  storma, 

His  brothers — younger  brothers,  whom  he  scarce 

As  equals  deemed.     All  passions  of  all  men — 

The  wild  and  tame — the  gentle  and  severe  ; 

All  thoughts,  all  majtims,  sacred  and  profane  ; 

All  creeds  ;  all  seasons,  Time,  Eternity  ; 

All  that  was  hated,  and  all  that  was  dear  ; 

All  that  was  hoped,  all  that  wjis  feared  by  man, 

He  tossed  about,  as  tempest,  withered  leaves. 

Then  smiling  looked  upon  the  wreck  he  made. 

With  terror  now  he  froze  the  cowering  blood  ; 

And  now  dissolved  the  heart  in  tenderness  : 

Vet  would  not  tremble,  would  not  weep  himself 

Bu!  back  into  his  soul  retired,  alone, 

Dark,  sullen,  proud  :  gazing  contemptuously 

Onhearts  and  passions  prostrate  at  his  feet. 

So  Ocean  from  the  plains,  bis  waves  had  late 

To  desolation  swept,  retired   in  pride. 

Exulting  in  the  glory  of  his  niight. 

And  seemed  to  mock  the  ruin  he  had  wrought. 

As  some  fierce  comet  of  tremendous  size. 
To  which  the  stars  did  reverence,  as  it  passed  ; 
So  he  through  learning,  and  through  fancy  took 
His  flight  sublime;  and  on  '.he  loftiest  top 
Of  Fame's  dread  mountain  sat :  not  soiled,  and  worn 
As  if  he  from  the  earth  had  labored  up — 
But  as  some  bird  of  heavenly  plumage  fair. 
He  looked,  which  down  from  higher  regions  came. 
And  perched  it  there,  to  see  what  lay  beneath. 

The  nations  gazed,  and  wondered  much,  and  praised. 
Critics  before  him  fell  in  humble  plight  ; 
Confounded  fell ;  and  made  debasing  sigus 


BOOK  IV.  103 

To  catch  his  eye;  and  stretched,aDd  swelled  themselves 

To  bursting  nigh,  to  utier  bulky  words 

Of  admiration  vast :  and  many  loo, 

Many  that  aimed  to  imitate  his  flight, 

With  weaker  wins,  unearthly  fluttering  made, 

And  gave  abundant  sport  to  after  days. 

Great  man!  the  nations  gazed,  and  wondered  much, 
And  praised  :  and  many  called  his  evil  good. 
Wits  wrote  in  favor  of  his  wickedness  j 
And  kinjsto  do  him  honoi  took  delight. 
Thus  full  of  titles,  flattery,  honor,  fame  ; 
Bejond  desire,  beyond  ambition  full, — 
He'died— hedied  of  what  ?  Of  wretchedness. 
Drank  every  cup  of  joy,  heard  every  trump 
Of  fame  ;  drank  early,  deeply  drank;  drank  draughts 
That  common  millions  might  have  quenched — Uien 

died 
Of  thirst,  because  there  was  no  more  to  drink. 
His  goddess,  Nature,  wooed,  embraced,  enjoyed, 
Fell  from  his  arms,  abhorred  ;  his  passions  died  j 
Died  all  but  dreary  solitary  pride  : 
And  all  his  sympathies  in  being  died. 
As  some  ill-guided  bark,  well  built  and  tall, 
Which  angry  tides  cast  out  on  desert  shore, 
And  then  retiring,  left  it  there  to  rot 
And  moulder  in  the  winds  and  rains  of  heaven  : 
So  he,  cut  from  the  sympathies  of  life, 
And  cast  ashore  from  pleasure's  boisterous  surge — 
A  wandering,  weary,  worn,  and  wretched  thing  ; 
Scorched  and  desolate,  and  blasted  soul  ; 
A  gloomy  wilderness  of  'dying  thought — 
Repined,  and  groaned,  and  withered  from  the  earth. 
His  groanin^s  tilled  the  land,  his  numbers  filled  : 
And  yet  he  seemed  ashamed  to  groan.    Poor  man  ! 
Ashamed  to  ask,  and  yet  he  needed  help. 


104  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Was  God  delighted,  or  his  peace  secured  : 
That  not  in  natural  or  mental  wealth, 
Was  human  happiness  or  grandeur  found. 
Attempt  how  monstrous  !  and  how  surely  vain  ! 
With  ihings  of  earthly  sjrt,  with  aught  but  God, 
With  aught  but  moral  excellence,  truth  and  love, 
To  satisfy  and  fill  the  immortal  soul  ! 
Attempt,  vain  inconceivably  !  attempt, 
To  satisfy  the  ocean  with  a  drop  ; 
To  marry  Immorlalily  to  Death  ; 
And  with  the  unsubstantial  Shade  of  Time, 
To  fill  the  embrace  of  all  Eternity  ! 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  V. 

Actions  done  in  time  live  in  Eternity. 

Men  may  be  absolved  from  the  consequence  orsin,but 
the  evil  deed,  altho'  not  imputed,  remains  a  dark 
spot  on  the  annals  of  the  p3st. 

True  happiness  was  within  the  reach  of  all;  and  that, 
which  waa  joy  to  one,  w-as  misery  to  another. 

True  happiness  always  accompanied  duty. 

Among  the  contributions  to  happiness  were,  the  bliss 
and  "jny  of  childhood,  of  maternal  affection,  of 
youthful  love,  and  of  friendship  ;  the  study  of  na- 
ture ;  recollections  of  the  past  ;  anticipations  of 
the  future,  repose  after  labor,  and  even  grief  affor- 
ded joys. 

From  whatever  sources  men  experienced  joy,  the 
pious  enjoyed  the  same  in  the  highest  decree. 

Of^  the  Millennium,  the  thousand  years  of  Messiah's 
reign^  foretold  by  the  prophets,  preceded  by  the 
conflict  between  Truth  and  error. 


THE 

Qtouvnt  of  Kimt 

BOOK  V. 


Jr  RAISE  God,  ye  servants  of  the  Lord  !  praise  Gel, 

Ye  angels  strong  I  praise  God,  ye  sons  of  men  ! 

Praise  him  who  made,  and  who  redeemed  your  soelfij 

Who  gave  you  hope,  reflection,  reason,  wiU  j 

Minds  that  can  pierce  eternity  remote, 

And  live  at  once  on  future,  present,  past ; 

Can  speculate  on  systems  yet  to  make, 

And  back  recoil  on  ancient  days  of  Time. 

Of  Time,  soon  past  ;  soon  lost  among  the  shades 

Of  buried  years.     Not  so  the  actions  done 

In  Time,  the  deeds  of  reasonable  men  ; 

As  if  engraven  with  pen  of  iron  grain. 

And  laid  in  flinty  rock,  they  stand  unchanged, 

Writ'en  on  the  Various  pages  of  the  past : 

If  good,  in  rosy  characters  of  love  ; 

If  bad,  in  letters  of  vindictive  fire. 

God  may  forgive,  but  cannot  blof  them  out. 
Systems  begin,  and  end  ;  eternity 
Rolls  on  his  endless  years  ;  and  men  absolved 
By  mercy  from  the  consequence,  forget 
The  evil  deed  ;  and  God  impjtes  it  not  : 
But  neither  systems  ending,  nor  begun  j 
Kternily  that  rolls  his  endless  years  ; 
Nor  men  absolved,  and  sanctified,  and  washed 
Ey  mercy  from  the  constquence ;  nor  yet 


108  THE  COUBSE  OF  TIME. 

Forgetfulness  ;  nor  God  imputing  not, 
Can  wash  the  guilty  deed  once  done,  from  out 
The  faithful  annals  of  the  past ;  who  reads, 
And  many  read,  there  find  it,  as  it  was, 
And  is,  and  shall  for  ever  be — a  dark, 
Unnatural  and  loathly  moral  spot. 

The  span  of  Time  was  short  indeed  ;  and  now 
Three-fourths  were  past,  the  last  beguu,  and  on 
Careering  to  its  close,  which  soon  we  sing  : 
But  first  our  promise  we  redeem,  to  tell 
'Ihe  joys  of  Time— her  joys  of  native  growth  ; 
And  briefly  must,  what  longer  tale  deserves. 

Wake,  dear  remembrances  !  wake,  childhood-days ! 
Loves,  friendships,  wake  !  and  wake  thou  mom,  and 

even  1 
Sun  !  with  thy  orient  locks  ;  night,  moon,  and  stars 
And  thou,  celestial  bow  !  and  all  ye  woods. 
And  hills,  and  vales  ;  fast  trode  in  dawninplife  ! 
And  hours  of  holy  musing,  wake  !  wake  earth  '. 
And  smiling  to  remembrance,  come  ;  and  bring, 
For  thon  canst  bring,  meet  argument  for  song 
Of  heavenly  harp  ;  meet  hearin?  for  the  ear 
Of  heavenly  auditor,  exalted  high. 

God  gave  much  peace  on  earth;  much  holy  joy  ; 
Oped  fountains  of  perennial  spring,  whence  flowed 
Abundant  happiness  to  all  who  wished 
To  drink  :  not  perfect  bliss  ;  that  dwells  with  us, 
Beneath  the  eyelids  of  the  Eternal  One, 
And  sits  at  his  right  hand  alone  ;  but  such, 
As  well  deserved  the  name— abundant  joy. 
Pleasures,  on  which  the  memory  of  saints 
Of  highest  glory,  still  delights  to  dwell. 

It  was,  we  own,  subject  of  much  debate. 
And  worthy  men  stood  on  opposing  sides, 
VVhether  the  cup  of  mortal  life  had  more 


BOOK  V.  109 

Of  sour  or  sweet.    Vain  question  this,  when  asked 
In  general  terms,  and  worthy  to  be  left 
Unsolved.     If  most  was  sour — the  drinker,  not 
The  cup,  we  blame.    Each  in  himself  the  means 
Possessed  to  turn  the  bitter  sweet,  the  sweet 
To  hitter  :  hence  from  out  the  self-same  fount, 
One  nec'ar  drank,  another  d.-^ughts  of  gall. 
Hence  from  the  selfsame  quarter  of  the  sky, 
One  saw  ten  thousand  angels  look,  and  smile  ; 
Another  saw  as  many  demons  frown. 
One  discord  heard,  where  harmony  inclined 
Another's  ear.     The  sweet  was  in  the  taste; 
The  beauty  in  the  eye  ;  and  io  the  ear 
The  melody  ;  and  in  the  man — for  God 
Necessity  of  sinning  laid  on  none — 
.To  form  the  taste,  to  purify  the  eye, 
And  tune  the  ear,  that  all  he  tasted,  saw, 
Or  heard,  might  be  harmonious,  sweet,  and  fair. 
Who  would,  might  groan  ;  who  would,  might  siag 
for  joy. 

Nature  lamented  little  ;  nndevcmred 
Bv  spurious  appetites,  she  found  enough. 
Where  least  was  found  :  with  gleanings  satisfied, 
Or  crumbs,  that  from  the  hand  of  luxury  fell ; 
Yet  seldom  these  she  ate  :  but  ate  the  bread 
Of  her  own  industry,  made  sweet  by  toil  : 
And  walked  in  robe's  that  her  own  hand  had  spun 
And  slept  on  down,  her  early  rising  bought. 
Frugal,  and  diligent  in  business,  clias;e 
And  abstinent,  she  stored  for  helpless  age. 
And  keeping  in  reserve  her  spring-day  health, 
And  dawning  relishes  of  life,  she  drank 
Her  evening  cup  with  excellent  appetite  j 
And  saw  her  eldest  sun  decline,  as  fa-ir 
As  rose  her  earliest  morn,  and  pleased  as  well. 

Whether  io  crowds,  or  solitudes— in  streets 
Or  shady  groves,  dwelt  happiness,  it  seems 


no  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

In  vain  to  ask  ;  lier  nature  makes  it  vain: 
Tho'  poets  much,  and  hermits  talked  and  sung 
Of  brooks,  and  crj'stal  founts,  and  weeping  dews, 
And  myrtle  bowers,  and  solitary  vales  ; 
And  with  the  nymph  made  assignations  there  ; 
And  wooed  her  with  the  love- sick  oaten  reed. 
And  sages  too,  although  less  positive, 
Advised  their  sons  to  court  her  m  the  shade. 
Delirious  babble  all !  Was  happiness, 
Was  self-approving,  God  approving  joy, 
In  drops  of  dew,  however  pure  ?  in  gales, 
However  sweet  ?  in  wells,  however  clear  > 
Or  groves,  however  thick  with  verdant  shade  ? 

True,  these  were  of  themselves  exceeding  fair : 
How  fair  at  morn  and  even  !  worthy  the  walk 
Of  loftiest  mind  ;  and  gave,  when  all  within 
Was  right,  a  feast  of  overflowingbliss, 
But  were  the  occasion,  not  the  cause  of  joy  : 
They  waked  the  native  fountains  of  the  soul, 
Which  slept  before  ;  and  etirred  the  holy  tidea 
Of  feeling  up  ;  giving  the  heart  to  drink 
From  its  own  treasures,  draughts  of  perfect  sweet- 

The  Christian  faith,  which  better  knew  the  heart 
Of  man — him  thither  sent  for  peace  ;  and  thus 
Declared  :  Who  tinds  it,  let  him  find  it  there  : 
Who  finds  it  not,  forever  let  him   seek 
Id  vain  :  'tis  God-s  most  holy,  changeless  will. 

True  happiness  had  no  localities  ; 
No  tones  provincial  ;  no  peculiar  garb. 
Where  duty  went,  she  went  ;  with  justice  went } 
And  went  with  meekness,  charity,  and  love. 
Where'er  a  tear  was  dried  ;  a  wounded  heart 
Bound  up  ;  a  bruised  spirit  with  the  dew 
Ot  syropathv    anointed  ;  or  a  pang 
Of  honest  suffering  soothed  ;  or  injuiy 
Repeated  oft,  as  oft  by  love  forsivt;n  ; 


BOOK  V.  m 

Where'er  an  evil  passion  was  subdued, 
Or  Virtue's  feeble  embers  fanned  ;  where'er 
A  sin  was  heartily  abjured,  and  left  ; 
Where'er  a  pious  act  was  done,  or  breathed 
A  pious  prayer,  or  wished  a  pious  wish — 
There  was  a  hi?h  and  holy  place,  a  spot 
Of  sacred  light,  a  most  religious  fane, 
Where  Happiness,  descending,  sat  and  smiled. 

But  these  apart.    In  sacred  memory  lives 
The  morn  of  life  ;  first  morn  of  endless  days. 
Most  joyful  morn  !  nor  yet  for  nought  the  joy  : 
A  being  of  eternal  date  commenced  ; 
A  young  immortal  then  was  born  ;  and  who 
Shall  tell  what  strange  variety  of  bliss 
Burst  on  the  infant  soul,  when  first  it  looked 
Abroad  on  God's  creation  fair,  and  saw 
The  glorious  earth,  and  glorious  heaven,  and  face 
Of  man  sublime  ?  and  saw  all  new,  and  felt 
All  new  ?  when  thought  awoke  ;  thought  never  more 
To  sleep?  when  first  it  saw,  heard,  reasoned,  willed 
And  triumphed  in  the  vrarmth  of  conscious  life  ? 

Nor  happy  only  ;  but  the  cause  of  joy, 
Which  those  who  never  tasted  always  inoumed. 
What  tongue?no  tongue  shall  tell  what  blisso'crlloweJ 
The  mother's  tender  heart,  while  round  her  hung 
The  offspring  of  her  love,  and  lisped  her  name  ; 
As  living  jewels  drop!  usstained  from  heaven, 
That  made  her  fairer  far,  and  sweeter  seem, 
Than  every  ornament  of  costliest  hue. 
And  who  hath  not  been  ravished,  as  she  passed 
With  all  her  playful  band  of  little  ones. 
Like  Luna,  with  her  daughters  of  the  sky, 
Walking  in  matron  majesty  and  grace  ? 
All  who  had  hearts,  here  pleasure  found  :  and  oft 
Have  I,  when  tired  with  heavy  task,  for  tasks, 
Were  heavy  in  the  world  below,  relaxed 
Mt  weary  thoughts  among  their  guiltless  sports  ; 


112  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  led  them  by  their  little  hands  afield  ; 

And  watched  them  run  and  crop  tlie  tempting  flower, 

Which  oft,  unasked,  they  brought  me,  and  bestow  'd 

With  smiling  face,  that  waited  for  a  look 

Of  praise — and  answered  curious  questions,  put 

In  much  simplicity,  but  ill  to  solve  : 

And  heard  their  observations  strange  and  new, 

And  settled  whiles  their  little  quarrels,  soon 

Ending  in  peace,  and  sorn  forgot  in  love. 

And  still  I  looked  upon  their  loveliness  ; 

And  sought  through  nature  for  similitudes 

Of  perfect  beauty,  innocence,  and  bliss. 

And  fairest  imagery  around  me  thronged  ; — 

Dew-drops  at  day-spring  on  a  seraph's  locks  ; 

Roses  that  bathe  about  the  well  of  life  ; 

Young  Loves,  young  Hopes,  dancing  on  Morning^ 

cheek  ; 
Gems  leaping  in  the  coronet  of  love  : 
So  beautiful,  so  full  of  life,  they  seemed 
As  made  entire  of  beams  of  angel's  eyes. 
Gay,  guileless,  sportive,  lovely,  little  things  ! 
Playing  around  the  den  of  sorrow,  clad 
In  smiles  ;  believing  in  their  fairy  hopes  ; 
And  thinking  man  and    woman  true  :  all  joy  : 
Happy  all  day,  and  happy  all  the  night. 

Hail,  holy  love  !  thou  word  that  sums  all  bliss  ! 
Gives  and  receives  all  bliss  ;  fullest  when  most 
Thou  givest.     Spring-liead  of  all  felicity  ! 
Deepest  when  most  is  drawn.     Emblem  of  God  ! 
Overflowing  most  when  greatest  numbers  drink  : 
Essence  that  binds  the  uncreated  Three  : 
Chain  that  unites  creation  to  its  Lord  : 
Centre  to  which  all  being  gravitates  : 
Eternal,  evergrowing,  happy  love  ! 
Enduring  all,  hoping,  forgiving  all  ; 
Instead  of  law,  fulfilling  every  law. 
Entirely  blest,  because  thou  seek'st  co  more  ; 
Hopes  not,  nor  fears  ;  but  on  the  present  lives, 


BOOK  V.  113 

And  holds  perfection  emiling  ki  thy  arms. 
Mysterious,  infinite,  exhaiistless  iove  ! 
On  earth  mysterious,  and  mysterious  still 
In  heaven  :  sweet  chord,  that  harmonizes  all 
The  harps  of  Paradise  :  the  spring,  the  well, 
That  fills  the  bowl,  and  banquet  of  the  sky. 

But  why  should  I  to  thee  of  love  divine  ? 
Who  happy,  and  not  eloquent  of  love  ? 
Who  holy,  and  as  thou  art,  pure,  and  not 
A  temple  where  her  glory  ever  dwells, 
Where  bum  her  fires,  and  beams  ber  perfect  eye  ? 

Kindred  to  this,  part  of  this  holy  fianie, 
Was  youthful  love — the  sweetest  boon  of  Earth. 
Hail  love  !  first  love,  thou  word  that  sums  all  bliss 
The  sparkling  cream  of  all  Time's  blessedness, 
The  silken  down  of  happiness  complete  : 
DiscerntT  of  the  ripest  grapes  of  joy — 
She  gathered  and  selected  with  her  bane. 
All  finest  relishes,  all  fairest  sights  ; 
All  rarest  odors,  all  divinest  sounds  ; 
All  Ihouehls,  all  feelings  dearest  to  the  soul  ; 
And  brought  the  holy  mixture  home,  and  filled 
The  heart'  with  all  superlatives  of  bliss. 
But  who  would  that  expound  which  w  ords  transcends, 
Must  talk  in  vain — Behold  a  meeting  scene 
Of  early     love,  and  thence  infer  its  worth. 

It  was  an  eve  of  Autumn's  holiest  mood  ; 
The  corn  fields,  bathed  in  Cynthia's  silver  light, 
S'ood  ready  for  the  reaper's  gathering  hand  ; 
And  all  the  winds  slept  soundly  ;  tature  seemed, 
In  silent  contemplation,  to  adore 
Its  Djaker  :  now  and  then  the  aged  leaf 
Fell  from  its  fellows,  rustling  to  the  ground  j 
And,  as  it  fell,  bade  man  tltink  on  his  end. 
On  vale  and  lake,  on  wood  and  mountain  high, 
Wilh  pensive  wing  outspread,  sat  heavenly  thouglif, 


114  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Conversing  with  itself :    Vesper  looked  forth, 
From  out  her  western  hermitage,  and  smiled  ; 
And  up  the  east  unclouded  rode  the  .Moon 
With  all  her  stars,  gazing  on  earth  intense, 
As  if  she  saw  some  wonder  walking  there. 

Such  was  the  night— so  lovely,  still,  serene  ; 
When,  by  a  hermit  thorn  that  on  the  hill 
Had  seen  a  hundred  flowery  ages  pass, 
A  damsel  kneeled  to  ofifer  up  her  prayer  : 
Her  prayer  nishtly  offered,  nightly  heard. 
This  ancient  thorn  had  been  the  meeting  place 
Of  love,  before  his  country's  voice  had  called 
The  ardent  youth  to  fields  of  honor  far 
Beyond  the  wave.    And  hither  now  repaired, 
Nightly,  the  maid  ;  by  God's  all-seeing  eye 
Seen  only,  while  she  sought  this  boon  alone  : — 
Her  lover's  safety,  and  his  quick  return. 
Jn  holy,  humble  attitude  she  kneeled  ; 
And  to  her  lx)som,  fair  as  moon-beam.pressed 
One  hand,  the  other  lifted  up  to  heaven  ; 
Her  eye  upturned,  bright  as  the  star  of  mom, 
As  violet  meek,  escesiive  ardor  streamed, 
Wafting  away  her  earnest  heart  to  God. 
Her  voice  scarce  uttered  ;  soft  as  Zephyr  sighs 
On  morning  lily's  cheek  ;  tho'  soft  and  low 
Yet  heard  in  heaven,  heard  at  the  mercy-seat, 
A  tear-drop  wandered  on  her  lovely  face  : 
It  was  a  tear  of  faith,  and  holy  fear. 
Pure  as  the  drops  that  bang  at  dawning  time, 
On  yonder  willows  by  the  stream  of  life. 
Od  her  the  moon  looked    stedfasrly,  the  stars, 
That  circle  nightly  round  the  eternal  throne. 
Glanced  down,  well  pleased  ;  and  everlasting  loTO 
Gave  gracious  audience  to  her  prayer  sincere. 

O  had  her  lover  seen  her  thus  alone, 
Thus  holy,  wrestling  thus,  and  all  for  him  ! 
Nor  did  he  not :  for  oft-times  Provideuce, 


BOOKV,  IJ 

With  unexpected  joy  the  fervent  prayer 
tlf  faith  surprised  : — returned  from  long  delay, 
With  glory  crowned  of  righteous  actions  won, 
The  sacred  thorn  to  memory  dear,  first  sought 
The  youth,  and  found  it  at  the  happy  hour, 
Just  when  the  damsel  kneeled  herself  to  pray. 
Wrapt  in  devotion,  pleading  with  her  God, 
She  saw  hira  not,  heard  not  his  foot  approach. 
All  holy  images  seemed  too  impure 
To  emblem  her  he  saw.     A  seraph  kneeled, 
Beseeching  for  his  ward,  before  the  throne, 
Seemed  fittest,  pleased  him  best.    Sweet  was  tl 

thought ;      ■^~ 
But  sweeter  still  the  kind  remembrance  came. 
That  she  was  flesh  and  blood,  formed  for  himself^ 
The  plighted  partner  of  his  future  life. 
And  as  they  met,  embraced,  and  sat  embowered 
In  woody  chambers  of  the  starry  nisht, — 
Spirits  of  love  about  tliem  ministered, 
Ajad  God  approving,  blessed  the  holy  joy. 

Nor  unremembered  is  the  hour  when  friends 
Met  ;  friends  but  few  on  earth,  and  therefore  dear. 
Sought  of  I,  and  sought  almost  as  of   in  vain  : 
Yet  always  sought  ;  so  native  to  the  heart. 
So  much'desired,  and  coveted  by  all. 
Nor  wonder  thou— thou  wonder'st  not,  nor  need%t: 
Much  beautiful,  and  excellent,  and  fair 
Was  seen  beneath  the  sun  :  but  nought  was  seen 
More  oeautiful,or  excellent,  or  fair 
Than  face  of  faithful  friend  ;  fairest  when  seen 
In  darkest  day.  And  many  sounds  were  sweet. 
Most  ravishing,  and  pleas^.nt  to  the  ear  ; 
But  sweeter  none  than  voice  of  faithful  friend  ; 
Sweet  always,  sweetest  heard  in  loudest  storm. 
Some  I  remember,  and  will  ne'er  forget ; 
My  early  friends,  friends  of  my  evil  day  ; 
Friends  in  my  mirth,  friends  iu  my  misery  too  , 
Friends  given  by  God  in  mercy  and  in  love ; 


116  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

My  counsellors,  my  comforters,  and  ^ides  ; 

My  joy  in  grief,  my  second  bliss  in  joy  ; 

Companions  of  my  youn?  desires  ;  in  doubt 

My  oracles,  my  wings  in  high  pursuit. 

0,  I  remember,  and  will  ne'er  forget, 

Our  meeliiif  spots,   our  chosen  sacj-ed  hours  ; 

Our  burning  words,  that  uttered  all  the  soul  ; 

Our  faces  beaming  with  unearthly  love  ; — 

Sorrow  with  sorrow  sighing,  hope  with  hope 

Exulting,  heart  embracins  heart  entire. 

As  birds  of  social  feather  helping  each 

His  fellow's  flisht,  we  soared  into  the  skies, 

And  cast  the  clouds  beneath  our  feet,  aun  earth, 

With  all  her  tardy  leaden-footed  cares, 

And  talked  the  speech,  and  ate  the  food  of  heaven. 

These  I  remember,  these  selectestmen  ; 

And  would  their  names  record — but  what  avails 

My  mention  of  their  name  :  before  the  throne 

They  stand  illustrious 'mong  the  loudest  harps, 

And  will  receive  thee  glad,  my  friend  and  theirs 

For  all  are  friends  in  heaven  ;  all  faithful  friends  : 

And  many  friendships  in  the  days  of  Time 

Begun,  are  lasting  here,  and  growing  still : 

So  grows  ours  evermore,  both  theirs  and  mine. 

Nor  is  the.hour  of  lonely  walk  forgot, 
In  the  wide  desert,  where  the  view  was  large. 
Pleasant  were  many  scenes,  but  most  to  me 
The  solitude  of  vast  exteat,  untouched 
By  hand  of  art,  where  nature  sowed,  herself, 
And  reaped  her  crops;  whose  garments  were  the  doudti 
Whose  minstrels,  brooks ;   whose   lamps,  the  moor 

and  stars  ; 
Wliose  organ-<iuire,  the  voice  of  many  waters  ; 
Whose  banquets, morning  dews;  whose  heroes.sionn!H 
Whose  warriors,  mighty  winds;whose  lovers,fiowen« 
Whose  orators,  the  thunderbolts  of  God  ; 
Whose  palaces,  the  everlasting  hills  ; 
Whose  celiing,  heaven's  unfathomable  blue  ; 


BOOK  V.  117 

And  from  whose  rocky  turrets  battled  high, 
Prospect  immeRse  spread  out  on  all  sides  round  ; 
Lost  now  between  the  welkin  aud  the  main, 
Is'ow  walled  with  hills  that  slept  above  the  storm. 

Most  fit  was  such  a  place  for  musing  men  ; 
Happiest  sometimes  when  musini;  without  aim. 
It  was  indeed  a  wondrous  sort  of  bliss 
The  lonely  bard  enjoyed,  when  forth  he  walked 
Unpurposed  ;  s'ood,  and  knew  not  why  ;  sat  down^ 
And  knew  not  where  ;  arose,  and  knew  not  when; 
Had  eyes,  and  saw  not  ;  ears,  and  nothing  heard  ; 
And  sought — sought  neither  heaven  nor  earth — sought 

nought, 
Nor  meant  to  think  ;  but  ran,  meantime,  thro'  vast 
Of  visionary  things,  fairer  than  aught 
That  was  ;  and  saw  the  distant  tops  of  thoughts, 
Which  men  of  common  stature  never  saw, 
Grea'er  than  aught  that  largest  words  could  hold, 
Or  give  idea  of,  to  those  who  read. 
He  entered  in  to  Nature's  holy  place, 
Her  inner  chamtier,  and  beheld  her  face 
Unveiled  ;  and  heard  unutterable  things, 
And  incommunicable  visions  saw  : — 
Things  then  unu'terabie,  and  vis'ons  then 
Of  incommunicable  glory  bright } 
But  by  the  lips  of  after  ages  formed 
To  words,  or  by  their  pencil  pictured  forth  : 
Who  en'ering  fartlier  in  beheld  again. 
And  heard  unspeakable  and  marvellous  things, 
AVhich  oiher  ages  in  their  turn  revealed  j 
And  left  to  others  greater  wonders  still. 

The  earth  abounded  much  in  silent  wastes  ; 
Nor  jet  is  heaven  without  its  solitudes. 
Else  incomplete  in  br::;s,  whither  who  will 
May  oft  retire,  and  meditate  alone, 
Of  God,  redemption,  holiness,  and  love  : 
Nor  needs  to  fear  a  setting  sua,  or  haste 
H3 


118  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Him  home  from  rainy  tempest  unforeseen  ; 
Or,  aighing,  leave  his  thoughts  for  want  of  time. 

Bat  whatsoever  was  both  eood  and  fair, 
And  highest  relish  of  enjoyment  gave, 
In  inteilectnal  exercise  was  found  : 
When  gazing  through  the  future,  present,  past, 
Inspired, thought  linked  to  thought.harmonious  flowed 
In  poetry — the  loftiest  mood  of  mind. 
Or  when  philosophy  the  reason  led 
Deep  thro'  the  outward  circumstance  of  things  ; 
And  saw  the  master  wheels  of  Nature  move  ; 
And  travelled  far  along  the  endless  line 
Of  certain  aod  of  probable  ;  and  made, 
At  every  step,  some  new  discovery, 
That  gave  the  soul  sweet  sense  of  larger  room. 
High  these  pursuits — and  sooner  to  be  named 
Deserved  ;  at  present  only  named  ;  again 
To  be  resumed,  and  praised  in  longerverse. 

Abundant  and  diversified  above 
All  number,  were  the  sources  of  delight ; 
As  infinite  as  were  the  lips  that  drank  ; 
And  to  the  pare,  all  mnocent  and  pure  ; 
The  simples!  still  lo  wisest  men  the  best. 
One  made  acquainunceship  with  plants  and  flowers. 
And  happy  grew  in  telling  all  their  names. 
One  classed  the  quadrupeds ;  a  third  the  fowls  ; 
Another  found  in  minerals  his  joy. 
And  I  have  seen  a  man,  a  worthy  man, 
In  happy  mood  conversing  with  a  fly ; 
And  as  he  through  his  glass  made  by  himself, 
Beheld  its  woudrous  eye,  and  plumage  fine. 
From  leaping  scarce  he  kept  for  perfect  joy. 

And  from  my  path,  I  with  my  friend  have  turned, 
A  man  of  excellent  mind,  and  excellent  heart. 
And  climbed  the  neighboring  hill,  with  arduous  step, 
I'eicbing  from  distant  cairn,  or  from  the  eartb 


BOOK  V.  110 

Digeing  with  labor  sore,  the  ponderous  stone, 
Which  having  carried  to  the  highest  top, 
We  downward  rolled  ;  and  as  it  strove  at  first 
With  obstacles  that  seemed  to  match  its  force, 
With  feeble  crooked  motion  to  and  fro 
Wavering,  he  looked  with  interest  most  intense, 
And  prayed  almost ;  and  as  it  gathered  strengtti, 
And  straitened  the  current  of  its  furious  flow — 
Exulting  in  the  swiftness  of  its  course, 
And  rising  DOW  with  rainbow-bound  immense, 
Leaped  down  careering  o'er  the  subject  plain. 
He  clapped  his  hanJs  in  sign  of  boundless  bliss  ; 
And  laughed  and  talked,  well  fjaid  for  all  his  toil : 
And  when  at  night  the  story  was  rehearsed, 
Uncommon  glory  kindled  in  his  eye. 

And  there  were  too — harp  !  lift  thy  voice  on  high, 
And  run  in  rapid  numbers  o'er  the  face 
Of  Nature's  scenery — and  there  were  day 
And  night  ;  and  rising  suns,  and  setting  suns  ; 
And  clouds,  that  seemed  like  chariots  of  saints. 
By  fiery  coursers  drawn — as  brightly  hued. 
As  if  the  glorious,  bushy,  golden  locks 
Of  thousand  cherubim,  had  been  shorn  off, 
And  on  the  temples  hung  of  morn  and  even. 
And  there  were  moons.and  stars,and  darkness  streaked 
With  light ;  and  voice  of  tempest  heard  secure. 
And  there  were  seasons  coming  evermore. 
And  goina;  still,  all  fair,  and  always  new, 
With  bloom,  and  fruit,  and  fields'of  hoary  grain. 
And  there  were  hills  of  flock,  and  groves  of  song  ; 
And  flowery  streams,  and  garden  walks  embowered^ 
Where side'by  side  the  rose  and  lily  bloomed. 
And  sacred  founts,  wild  harps,  and  moonlight  glens 
And  forests  vast,  fair  lawns,  and  lonely  oaks 
And  little  willows  sipping  at  the  brook  : 
Old  wizard  haunts,  and  dancing  seats  of  mirth  J 
Gay  festive  bowers,  and  palaces  in  dust  ; 
Uark  owlet  nooks,  and  caves,  and  battled  rocks ; 


120  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  winding  vallies,  roofed  with  pendant  shade  ; 
And  tall  and  perilous  cliffs,  that  overlooked 
The  breadth  of  ocean,  sleeping  on  his  waves. 
Sounds,  eights,  smells,  tastes  ;  the  heaven  and  earth, 

profuse 
In  endless  sweets,  above  all  praise  of  song  s 
For  not  to  use  alone  did  Trovideuce 
Abound,  but  large  example  gave;o  man 
Of  grace,  and  ornament,  and  splendor  rich  ; 
Suited  abundantly  to  every  (aste. 
In  bird,  beast,  fish,  winged  and  creeping  thing  ; 
In  herb  aad  flower  ;  and  in  the  restless  change, 
Which  on  the  many-colored  seasons  made 
The  annual  circuit  of  the  fruitful  earth. 

Nor  do  I  aught  of  earthly  sort  remember,— 
If  partial  feeling  (o  my  native  place 
r.*ad  not  my  lyre  astray, — of  fairer  view, 
And  comelier  walk,  than  the  blue  mountain-paths. 
And  snowy  cliffs  of  Albion  renowned  ; 
Albion,  an  isle  long  blessed  with  gracious  laws, 
And  gracious  kings,  and  favore.i  much  of  Heaven: 
Though  yielding  oft  penurious  gratitude. 
Nor  do  I  of  that  isle  remember  aught 
Of  prospect  more  sublime  and  beautiful, 
Than  Scoiia's  northern  battlement  of  hills. 
Which  first  I  from  my  father's  house  beheld, 
At  dawn  of  life  :  beloved  in  memory  still  ; 
And  standard  still  of  rural  imagery  : 
What  most  resembles  them,  the  fairest  seems, 
And  stirs  the  eldest  sentiments  of  bliss  ; 
And  pictured  on  the  tablet  of  my  heart, 
Their  distant  shapes  eternally  remain. 
And  iu  my  dreams  their  cloudy  lops  arise. 

Much  of  my  native  scenery  appears. 
And  presses  forward  to  be  in  my  song  ; 
But  must  not  now  :  for  much  behind  awaits 
Of  higher  note.    Four  trees  I  pass  not  by, 


BOOK  V.  121 

Which  o'er  onr  house  their  evening  shadow  threw  :— 
Three  ash,  and  one  of  elm  :  tall  trees  they  were, 
And  old ;  and  had  been  old  a  cenhjr)' 
Before  my  day  :  none  living  could  say  ought 
About  their  youth  ;  but  they  were  goodly  trees  i 
And  oft  1  wondered,  as  I  sat  and  thought 
Beneath  their  summer  shade,  or  in  the  night 
Of  winter,  heard  the  spirits  of  the  wind 
Growling  among  their  boughs, — how  they  had  grown 
So  high,  in  such  a  rough  tempestuous  place  : 
And  when  a  hapless  branch,  torn  by  the  blast, 
Fell  down,  I  mourned,  as  if  a  friend  had  fallen. 

These  I  distinctly  hold  in  memory  still. 
And  all  the  desert  scenery  around. 
Nor  strange,  that  recollection  there  should  dwell, 
Where  first  1  heard  of  God's  redeeming  !ove  ; 
First  felt  and  reasoned,  loved  and  was  beloved, 
And  fifst  awoke  the  harp  to  holy  song. 

To  hoar  and  green  there  was  enough  of  joy. 
Hopes,  friendships,  charities,  and  warm  pursuit, 
Gave  comfor'able  flow  to  youthful  blood. 
And  there  were  old  rememtiances  of  days, 
When  on  the  glittering  dews  of  orient  life, 
Shone  sunshine  hopes — tnfailed,  unperjured  then  : 
And  there  were  childish  sports,  and  school-boy  feats, 
And  school-boy  sporis,  and  earnest  vows  of  love. 
Ottered,  when  passion's  Ixjisterous  tide  ran  high  j 
Sincerely  uttered,  though  but  seldom  kept  : 
And  there  were  angel  looks  ;  and  sacred  hours 
Of  rapture  ;  hours  that  in  a  moment  passed, 
And  yet  were  wished  to  last  for  evermore  : 
And  venturous  exploits  ;  and  hardy  deeds  ; 
And  bargains  shrewd,  achieved  in  manhood's  prime  ; 
And  thousand  recollections,  eay  and  sweet, 
Which,  as  'he  old  and  venerable  man 
Approached  the  grave,  around  him,  smiling,  flocked; 
And  breathed  new  ardor  through  bis  ebbing  veins  ; 


J22  THE  COURSE  OF  TLME. 

And  tonched  his  lips  with  endless  eloquence  ; 

And  cheered,  and  much  refreshed  his  withered  heart 

Indeed,  each  thin?  remembered,  all  but  guilt, 
Was  pleasant,  and  a  constant  source  of  joy. 
Nor  lived  the  old  on  memory  alone. 
He  in  his  children  lived  a  second  life  ; 
With  them  again  took  root ;  sprang  with  their  hopes  ; 
Entered  fnto  their  schemes ;  partook  their  fears  ; 
Laughed  in  their  mirth  ;  and  in  their  gain  grew  rich. 
And  sometimes  on  the  eldest  cheek  was  seen 
A  smile  as  hearty  as  on  face  of  youth. 
That  saw  in  prospect  sunny  hopes  invite, 
Hope's  pleasures — sung  to  harp  of  sweetest  note ; 
Harp,  heard  with  rapture  on  Britannia's  hills  j 
With  rapture  heard  by  me,  in  morn  of  life. 

Nor  small  the  joy  of  rest  to  mortal  men  J 
Rest  after  labor  ;  sleep  approaching  soft, 
And  wrapping  all  tlie  weary  faculties 
In  sweet  repose.    Then  Fancy,  unrestrained 
By  sense  or  judgment,  strange  confusion  made, 
Of  future,  present,  past  ;  combining  things 
Unseemly,  things  unsociable  in  Nature, 
In  most  absurd  communion,  laughable, 
Tbo'  sometimes  vexing  sore  the  slumbering  soul. 
Sporting  at  will,  she  thro'  her  airy  halls— 
With  moon  beams  paved,  and  canopied  with  ifars, 
And  tapestried  with  marvellous  imagery, 
And  shapes  of  glory,  infinitely  fair, 
Movine  and  mixing  in  most  wondrous  dance — 
Fantastically  walked  ;  but  pleased  so  well, 
That  ill  she'liked  the  judgment's  voice  severe. 
Which  called  her  home  when  noisy  morn  awoke. 
And  oft  she  sprang  beyond  the  bounds  of  Time, 
On  her  swift  pinion  lifting  up  the  souls 
Of  righteous  men,  on  high,  to  God.  and  heaven, 
Where  they  beheld  unutterable  things  ; 
Aud  heard  the  glorious  music  of  the  blest, 


BOOK  V.  ]23 

CircliD?  the  throne  of  the  Eternal  Three  ; 
And  with  the  spirits  unincaraate  took 
Celestial  pastime,  on  the  hills  of  God  ; 
Forgetful  of  the  gloomy  piss  between. 

Some  dreams  were  useless — moved  by  turbid  course 
Of  animal  disorder  ;  not  so  all  : 
Deep  moral  lessons  some  impressed,  that  nought 
Could  afterwards  deface.    And  oft  in  dreams, 
The  master  passion  of  the  soul  displayed 
His  huge  deformity,  concealeil  by  day — 
Warning  the  sleeper  to  beware,  awake. 
And  oft  in  dreams,  the  reprobate  and  vile, 
Unpardonable  sinner — as  he  seemed 
Toppling  upon  the  perilous  edge  of  hell — 
In  dreadful  apparition,  saw  before 
His  vision  pass,  the  shadows  of  the  damned  ; 
And  saw  the  glare  of  hollow,  cursed  eyes. 
Spring  from  the  skirts  of  the  infernal  night  ; 
And  saw  the  souls  of  wicked  men,  new  dead, 
By  devils  hearsed  into  the  fiery  gulf  ; 
And  heard  the  burning  of  the  endless  flames  ; 
And  heard  the  weltering  of  the  waves  of  wrath. 
And  sometimes,  too,  before  his  fancy,  passed 
The  Worm  that  never  dies,  writhing  its  fold 
In  hideous  sort,  and  with  eternal  Death 
Held  horrid  colloquy  ;  giving  the  wretch 
Unwelcome  earnest  of  the  wo  to  come. 
But  these  we  leave,  as  unbefitting  song, 
That  promised  happy  narrative  of  joy. 

But  what  of  all  the  joys  of  earth  was  most 
Of  native  growth,  most  proper  to  the  soil — 
Not  elsewhere  known,  in  worlds  that  never  fell- 
Was  joy  that  sprung  from  disappointed  wo. 
The  joy  in  grief ;  the  pleasure  after  pain  ; 
Fears  turned  to  hopes ;  meetings  expected  not  j 
Deliverances  from  dangerous  attitudes  ; 
Better  for  worse  ;  and  best  somelimes  for  worst ; 


Ji!4  THE  CUCBSE  OF  TIME. 

And  all  the  Beeming  ill,  ending  in  good — 
A  sort  of  happiness  composed,  which  none 
Has  had  experience  of,  but  morlal  man. 
Yet  not  to  be  despised.     Look  back,  and  one 
Behold,  who  would  not  ^ive  her  tear  for  all 
The  smiles  that  dance  about  the  cheek  of  Mirth. 

Among  the  tombs  she  walks  at  noon  of  night, 
In  miserable  garb  of  widowhood. 
Observe  her  yonder,  sickly,  pale,  and  sad, 
Bending  her  wasted  body  o'er  the  grave 
Of  him  who  was  the  husband  of  her  youth. 
The  niO'  n-beams  trembling  thro'  these  incient  yew», 
That  stand  like  ranks  of  mourners  round  the  bed 
Of  deaih,  fall  dismally  upon  her  face  ; 
Her  little,  hollow,  withered  face,  almost 
Invisible — so  worn  away  with  wo  : 
The  tread  of  hasty  foot,  passing  so  late, 
Disturbs  her  not  ;  nor  yet  the  roar  of  mirth, 
From  neighboring  revelr}'  ascending  loud. 
She  hears,  sees  nought ;  fears  nought  j    one  thought 

alone 
Fills  all  her  heart  and  soul ;  half  hoping,  half 
Remembering,  sad,  unutterable  thought  I 
Uttered  by  silence,  and  by  tears  alone. 
Sweet  tears  !  the  awful  language,  eloquent 
Of  infinite  affection  ;  far  too  big 
For  words.    She  sheds  not  many  now  :  that  grass, 
Which  springs  so  rankly  o'er  the  dead,  has  drunk 
Already  many  showers  of  grief:  a  drop 
Or  two  are  all  that  now  remain  behind, 
And  from  her  eye  that  darts  strange  fiery  beams, 
At  dreary  intervals,  drip  down  her  cheek. 
Falling  most  mournfully  from  bone  to  bone, 
liut  jet  she  wants  not  tears  :  that  babe,  that  hangs 
Upon  her  breast,  that  babe  that  never  saw 
Its  father — he  was  dead  before  its  birth — 
Helps  her  to  weep,  weeping  before  iis  lime  ; 
Taught  sorrow  by  the  mother's  melting  voice. 


BOOK  V.  125 

Repeafin;  off  the  father's  sacred  name. 
Be  not  surprised  at  this  expense  of  wo  ! 
The  man  she  mourns  was  all  she  called  her  own  : 
The  music  of  Iier  ear,  light  of  her  eye  ; 
Desire  of  all  her  heart ;  her  hope,  her  fear  : 
The  element  in  which  her  passions  lived — 
Dead  now,  or  dyinj  all.     Nor  lone  shall  she 
Visit  that  place  of  skulls  :  night  after  night, 
She  wears  herself  away  :  the  moon  beam  now, 
That  falls  upon  her  unsubstantial  frame. 
Scarce  finds  obstruction  ;  and  upon  her  bones,    • 
Barren  as  leafless  boughs  in  winter  lime, 
Her  infant  fastens  his  little  hands,  as  oft. 
Forgetful,  she  leaves  him  a  while  unheld. 
But  look,  she  passes  not  away  in  gloom  : 
A  lizht  from  far  illumes  her  face  ;  a  light 
That  comes  beyond  the  moon,  beyond  the  sun — 
The  light  of  truth  divine  ;  the  glorious  hope 
Of  resurrection  at  the  promised  mom, 
And  meetings  then  which  ne'er  shall  part  again. 

Indulge  another  note  of  kindred  tone, 
Where  grief  was  mixed  with  melancholy  joy. 

Oursighs  were  numerous,  and  profuse  our  tears  ; 
For  she,  we    lost,  was  lovely,  and  we  loved 
Her  much  :  fresh  in  our  memory,  as  fresh 
As  yesterday,  is  yet  the  day  she  died. 
It  sCas an  April  d'ay  ;  and  blithely  all 
The  youth  of  nature  leaped  beneath  the  sun, 
And  promised  glorious  manhood  ;  and  our  hearts 
Wereslad.and  round  them  danced  the  lightsome  bloo4- 
In  healthy  merriment — when  tidings  came, 
A  child  was  born  ;  and  tidings  came  again, 
That  she  who  gave  it  birth  was  sick  to  death. 
So  swift  trod  sorrow  on  the  hee!s  of  joy  ! 
We  gathered  round  her  bed,  and  bent  our  knees 
In  fervent  supplication  to  the  Throne 
Of  mercy  :  and  perfumed  our  prayers  with  sighs 


128  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Sincere,  and  penitential  tears,  and  looks 

Of  self-abasement  ;  but  we  sought  lo  slay 

An  angel  on  the  earth  ;  a  spirit  ripe 

For  heaven  ;  and  Mercy,  in  her  love,  refused  : 

Most  merciful,  as  oft,  when  seeming  least ! 

Most  gracious  when  she  seemed  the  most  to  frown ! 

The  room  I  well  remember  ;  and  the  bed  , 

On  which  she  lay  ;  and  all  the  faces  too     ' 

That  crowded  dark  and  mournfully  around. 

Her  father  there,  and  mother  bending  stood, 

And  down  their  ssed  cheeks  fell  many  drops 

Of  bilterness  ;  herhusbapd,  too,  was  there, 

And  brothers  ;  and  they  wept— her  sisters,  too, 

Did  weep  and  sorrow  comfortless  ;  and  I, 

Too,  wept,  tho'  not  to  weeping  given  :  and  all 

%Vithin  the  house  was  dolorous  and  sad. 

This  I  remember  well  ;  but  better  still, 

I  do  remember,  and  will  ne'er  forget. 

The  ilyingeye — that  eye  alone  was  bright, 

And  brighter  grew  as  nearer  death  approached  : 

As  I  have  seen  the  gentle  little  flower 

Look  fairest  in  the  silver  beam,  which  fell 

Reflected  from  the  thunder  cloud  that  soon 

Came  down,  and  o'er  the  desert  scattered  far 

And  wide  its  loveliness.     She  made  a  sign 

To  brir»g  her  babe— 'twas  brought,  and  by  her  placed. 

She  looked  upon  its  face,  that  neither  smiled 

Nor  wept,  nor  knew  who  gazed  upon't,  and  laid 

Her  hand  upon  its  little  breast  ;  and  sought 

For  It,  with  look  that  seemed  to  penetrate 

The  heavens — unutterable  blessings— such 

As  God  to  dying  parents  only  granted, 

For  infants  left  behind  them  in  the  world. 

"God  keep  rav  child,"  we  heard  her  say,  and  beard 

No  more  :  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant 

Was  come,  and  faithful  to  his  promise  stood 

Prepared  to  walk  with  her  thro'  deith's  dark  vale. 

And  now  her  eyes  grew  bright,  and  brighter  still, 

Too  bright  for  ours  to  look  upon,  sufl'used 


BOOK  V.  127 

With  many  fears,  and  closed  without  a  clond. 
They  set  as  sets  themoriiiDg  star,  which  goes 
Not  down  behind  the  darkened  west,  nor  hides 
Obscured  among  the  tempests  of  the  sky, 
But  melts  away  into  the  light  of  heaven. 

Loves,  friendships,  hopes,  and  dear  remembrances — 
The  kind  enibracings  of  the  heart— and  hours 
Of  happy  thought— and  smiles  coming  to  tears— 
And  glories  of  the  heaven  and  starry  cope 
Above,  and  glories  of  the  earth  beneath — 
These  were  the  rays  thai  wandered  through  the  gloom 
Of  mortal  life — wells  of  the  wilderness  ; 
Redeeming  features  in  the  face  of  Time  ; 
Sweet  drops,  that  made  the  mixed  cup  of  Ealtb 
A  palatable  draught — too  bitter  else. 

About  the  joys  and  pleasures  of  the  world, 
This  qoeslion  was  not  seldom  in  debate — 
Whether  the  righteous  man,  or  sinner,  had 
The  greatest  share,  and  relished  them  the  most  ? 
Tnith  gives  the  answer  thus,  gives  it  distinct, 
IS'or  needs  to  reason  long  :  The  righteous  man, 
For  what  was  he  denied  of  earthly  growth. 
Worthy  the  name  of  good  ?  Truth  answers— Nought, 
Had  he  not  appetites,  and  sense,  and  will  ? 
Might  he  not  eat,  if  Providence  allowed. 
The  finest  of  the  wheat  ?  Might  he  not  drink 
The  choicest  wine  ?  True,  he  was  temperate  J 
But  then  was  temperance  a  foe  to  peace  ? 
Might  he  not  rise,  and  clothe  himself  in  gold  ? 
Ascend,  and  stand  in  palaces  of  kings  ? 
True,  he  was  honest  still,  and  charitable  : 
Were  then  these  virtues  foes  to  human  peace  ? 
Might  he  not  do  exploits,  and  gain  a  name  ? 
Most  tnie,  he  trod  not  down  a  fellow's  right. 
Ncr  walked  up  to  a  throne  on  skulls  of  men  j 
Were  justice,  then,  and  mercy,  foes  to  peace  ? 
Had  he  not  friendships,  loves,  and  smiles,  and  Lopes  5 


123  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Sat  not  around  his  table  sons  and  daughters  ? 

Was  not  his  ear  with  music  pleased  ?  his  eye 

With  light  ?  Iiis  nostrils  with  perfumes  ?  his  lips 

With  pleasant  relishes  ?  grew  not  his  herds  ? 

Fell  not  the  rains  upon  his  meadows  ?  reaped 

He  not  his  harvests  ?  and  did  not  his  heart 

Revel  at  will  thro' all  the  charities 

And  sympathies  of  nature  uucoofined  ? 

And  were  not  these  all  sweetened,  and  sanctified 

By  dews  of  holiness  shed  from  atxjve  ? 

^iight  he  not  walk  thro'  fancy's  airy  halls  ? 

Might  he  not  History's  ample  page  survey  ? 

Might  he  not,  finally,  explore  the  depths 

Of  msntal,  moral,  natural,  divine  ? 

But  why  enumerate  thus  ?    One  word  enough. 

There  was  no  joy  in  all  created  things, 

No  drop  of  sweet,  that  turned  not  in  the  end 

To  sour,  of  which  the  righteous  man  did  not 

Paitake — partake,  invited  by  the  voice 

Of  God,  his  Father's  voice — who  gave  him  all 

His  heart's  desire.     And  o'er  the  sinner  siill, 

The  Christian  bad  this  oi.e  advantage  moie, 

That  when  his  earthly  pleasures  failed,  and  fail 

They  always  did  to  every  soul  of  man, 

He  sent  his  hopes  on  high,  looked  up,  and  reached 

His  sickle  forth,  and  reaped  the  fields  of  heaven, 

And  plucked  the  clusters  from  the  vines  of  God. 

Nor  was  the  general  aspect  of  the  world 
Always  a  moral  waste:  a  time  there  came, 
Tho'  few  believed  it  e'er  should  come,  a  time 
Typed  by  the  Sabbaih  day  recurring  once 
In  seven  ;  and  by  the  year  of  rest  indulged 
Septennial  to  the  lands  on  Jordan's  banks : 
A  time  foretold  by  Judah's  bards  in  words 
Of  fire :  a  time,  seventh  part  of  lime,  and  set 
Before  the  eighth  and  last— the  Sabbath  day 
Of  all  the  earth — when  all  had  rest  and  peace. 
Before  i's  coming  many  to  and  fro 


BOOK  V.  129 

Ran  ;  ran  from  various  cause  ;  by  many  sent 
From  various  cause ;  upright,  and  crooked  both. 
Some  sent,  and  ran  for  love  of  souls  sincere  ; 
And  more  at  instance  of  a  holy  name. 
With  godiy  zeal  much  vanit)'  was  mixed  ; 
And  circumstance  of  gaudy  civil  pomp  ; 
And  speeches  buying  praise  for  praise  ;  and  lists, 
And  endless  scrolls,  surcharged  with  modest  names 
That  sought  the  public  eye  ;  and  stories,  told 
In  quackish  phrase,  that  hurt  their  credit,  even 
When  true — combined  with  wise  and  prudent  means. 
Much  wheat,. much  chaff,  much  gold,  and  much  alloy  : 
But  God  wrought  with  the  whole— wrought  most 

with  what 
To  man  seemed  weakest  means — and  brought  result 
Of  good  from  good  and  evil  both  ;  and  breathed 
Into  the  withered  nations  breath  and  life; 
The  breath  and  life  of  liberty  and  truth. 
By  means  of  knowledge  breathed  into  (be  soul. 

Then  was  the  evil  day  of  tyranny ! 
Of  kingly  and  of  priestly  tyranny. 
That  bruised  the  nations  iong.    As  yet,  no  state 
Beneath  the  heavens  had  tasted  freedom's  wine  ; 
Tho'  loud  of  freedom  was  the  talk  of  all. 
Son>e  groaned  more  deeply,  being  heavier  tasked  ; 
Some  wrought  with  straw,  and  some  without;  but  all 
Were  slaves  or  meant  to  be  ;  for  rulers  still 
Had  been  of  equal  mind — excepting  few- 
Cruel,  rapacious,  tyrannous,  and  vile  ; 
And  had  with  equal  shoulder  propped  the  Beast. 
As  yet,  the  Church,  the  holy  spouse  of  God, 
Jn  members  few,  had  wandered  in  her  weeds 
Of  mourning,  persecuted,  scorned,  reproached. 
And  bufleted,  and  killed — in  members  few,^ 
Tho'  seeming  many  whiles  ;  then  fewest  oft, 
When  seeming  most.    She  still  had  hung  her  harp 
Upon  the  willow-tree,  and  sighed,  and  v^ept 
From  age  to  age,    Satan  began  the  war  ; 


130  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  all  hi3  an?els,  and  all  wicked  men, 

Against  her  fought  by  wile,  or  fierce  attack, 

Six  thousand  years  ;  but  fought  in  vain.  She  stood. 

Troubled  on  every  side,  but  not  distressed  ; 

Weeping,  but  yet  despairing  not !  cast  down, 

But  not  destroyed  :  for  she  upon  the  palms 

Of  God  was  graven,  and  precious  in  his  sight, 

As  apple  of  his  eye  ;  and  like  the  bush 

On  Midia's  mountain  seen,  burned  unconsumed  : 

But  to  the  wilderness  retirinz,  dwelt. 

Debased  in  sackcloth,  and  forlorn  in  tears. 

As  yet,  had  sung  the  s;arlet-colored  whore, 
Who  on  the  breast  of  civil  power  reposed 
Her  harlot  head — the  Church  a  harlot  then. 
When  first  she  wedded  civil  power — and  drunk 
The  blood  of  martyred  saints  ;   whose  priests  were 

lords  ; 
Whose  coffers  held  the  gold  of  every  land  ; 
Who  held  a  cup  of  all  pollutions  full  ; 
Who  with  a  double  horn  the  people  poshed  ; 
And  raised  her  forehead,  full  of  blasphemy, 
Above  the  holy  God,  usurping  oft 
Jehovah's  imcommunicable  names. 
The  nations  had  been  dark  ;  the  Jews  had  pined, 
Scattered  without  a  name,  beneath  the  curse  .; 
War  had  abounded  ;  Satan  rased  unchained  ; 
And  eartli  had  still  been  black  with  moral  gloom. 

But  now  the  cry  of  men  oppressed,  went  up 
Before  the  Lord,  and  to  remembrance  came 
The  teal's  of  all  his  saints — their  tears,  and  groans. 
Wise  men  had  read  the  number  of  the  name  ; 
The  prophet-years  had  rolled  ;  the  time,  and  times, 
And  half  a  time,  were  now  fulfilled  complete  ; 
The  seven  fierce  vials  of  the  wrath  of  God, 
Poured  by  seven  angels  strong,  were  shed  abroad 
Upon  the  earth,  and  emptied  to  the  dregs  ; 
The  prophecy  for  conformation  stood  ; 


And  all  was  ready  for  the  sword  of  God. 

The  righteous  saw,  and  fled  without  delay. 
Into  the  chambers  of  Onmipotence  : 
The  wicked  mocked,  and  soujht  for  erring  cause, 
To  satisfy  the  dismal  state  of  things — 
The  public  credit  gone  ;  the  fear  in  time 
Of  peace  ;  the  starving  want  in  time  of  wealth  ; 
The  insurrection  muttering  in  the  streets  ; 
And  pallid  consleniation  spreading  wide  ; 
And  leagues,  tho'  holy  termed,  first  ratified 
In  hell,  on  purpose  made  to  under-prop 
Iniquity,  and  crush  the  sacred  truth. 

Meantime  a  mighty  angel  stood  in  heaven, 
And  cried  aloud — Associate  now  yourselves, 
Ye  princes  !  potentates  !  and  men  of  war  '. 
And  mitred  heads  !  associate  now  yourselves  ; 
And  be  dispersed  :  embattle,  and  be  broken  •. 
Gird  on  your  armor,  and  be  dashea  to  dust  : 
Take  counsel,  and  it  shall  be  brought  to  naught  : 
Speak,  and  it  shall  not  stand. — And  suddenly 
The  armies  of  Ibe  saints  imbannered  stood 
On  Zion  hill  ;  and  with  them  angels  stood, 
In  squadron  bright,  and  chariots  of  fire  ; 
And  with  ihem  stood  the  Lord,  clad  like  a  man 
Of  war,  and  to  the  sound  of  thunder,  led 
The  battle  on.     Earth  shook,    the  kingdoms  shook, 
The  Beast,  the  lying  Seer,  dominions  fell  ; 
Thrones,  tyrants  fell,  confounded  in  the  dust. 
Scattered  and  driven  before  the  breath  of  God, 
As  chalf  of  summer  threshing-floor  before 
The  wind.     Three  days  the  battle  wasting  slew. 
The  sword  was  full,  the  arrow  drunk  with  blood  : 
And  to  the  supper  of  Almighty  God, 
Spread  in  Hamonah's  vale,  the  fowls  of  heaven, 
And  every  beast  invited  came — and  fed 
On  captains'  flesh,  and  dra&k  the  blood  of  kings. 
12 


132  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  lo  !  another  angel  stood  in  heaven. 
Crying  aloud  with  mighty  voice  :  Fallen,  fallen, 
Is  "Babylon  the  Great — to  rise  uo  more  ! 
Rejoice,  ye  prophets  !  over  her  rejoice, 
Apostles  !  holy  men,  all  saints,  rejoice  ! 
And  glory  give  to  God,  and  to  the  Lamb. 
And  all  the  armies  of  disburthened  earth, 
As  voice  of  many  waters,  and  as  voice 
Of  thunderings,  and  voice  of  multitudes. 
Answered,  Amen.     And  every  hill  and  rock, 
And  sea,  and  every  beast,  answered,  Amen. 
Europa  answered,  and  the  farthest  bounds 
Of  woody  Chili,  Asia's  fertile  coasts. 
And  Afric's  burning  wastes,  answered.  Amen. 
And  Heaven,  rejoicing,  answered  back.  Amen. 

Not  so  the  wicked  :  they  afar  were  heard 
Lamenting ;  kmgs  who  drank  her  cup  of  whoredoms, 
Captains,  and  admirals,  and  mighty  men. 
Who  lived  deliciously,  and  merchan's  rich 
With  merchandise  of  gold,  and  wine,  and  oil  ; 
And  those  who  traded  in  the  souls  of  men — 
Known  by  their  gaudy  robes  of  priestly  pomp  ; 
All  these  afar  off  stood,  crying,  Alas  ! 
Alas !  and  wept,  and  gnashed  their  teeth,and  groaned  ; 
And  with  the  owl,  that  on  her  ruins  sat. 
Made  dolorous  concert  in  the  ear  of  Night, 
And  over  her  again  the  heavens  rejoiced. 
And  earth  returned  again  theloud  response. 

Thrice  happy  days!  thrice  blessed  the  man  who  saw 
Their  dawn  !  the  Church  and  Stale,  that  long  had  held 
Unholy  intercourse,  were  now  divorced  ; 
Princes  were  righteous  men  ;  judges  upright : 
And  first  in  general  now — for  in  the  worst 
Of  times  there  were  some  honest  seers — the  priest 
Sought  other  than  the  fleece  among  his  floclis. 
Best  paid  when  God  was  honored  most.  And  like 
A  cedar,  nourished  well,  Jerusalem  grew, 


BOOK  V.  133 

And  towered  on  high,  and  spread,  and  flourished  fair ; 
And  underneath  her  boughs  the  nation  lodged  ; 
All  nations  lodged,  and  sung  the  song  of  peace. 
From  the  four  winds,  the  Jews,  eased  of  the  curse, 
Returned,  and  dwelt  with  God  in  Jacob's  land, 
And  drank  of  Sharon  and  of  Carmel'svine. 
Satan  was  bound  ;  tho'  bound,  not  banished  quite  ; 
But  lurked  about  the  timorous  skirts  of  things, 
111  lodged,  and  thinking  whiles  to  leave  the  earth  ; 
And  B  ith  the  wicked,  for  some  wicked  were. 
Held  midnight  meetings,  as  the  saints  were  wont ; 
Fearful  of  day,  who  once  was  as  the  sun, 
And  worshipped  more.    The  bad,  but  few,  became 
A  taunt,  and  hssing  now,  as  heretofore 
The  good  ;  and  blushing  hasted  out  of  sight. 
Disease  was  none  :  the  voice  of  war,  forgot  : 
The  sword,  a  share  :  a  pruning-hook,  the  spear. 
Men  grew  and  multiplied  upon  the  earth. 
And  filled  the  city,  and  the  waste  :  and  Death 
Stood  waiting  for  the  lapse  of  lardy  age, 
That  mocked  him  long.    Men  grew  and  multiplied  : 
But  lacked  not  bread  :  for  God  his  promise  brought 
To  mind,  and  blessed  the  land  with  plenteous  rain  ; 
And  made  it  blest,  for  dews,  and  precious  things 
Of  heaven,  and  blessings  of  the  deep  beneath  ; 
And  blessings  of  the  sun,  and  moon  ;  and  fruits 
Of  day  and  night  ;  and  blessings  of  the  vale  ; 
And  precious  things  of  the  eternal  hills  ; 
And  all  the  fullness  of  perpetual  spring. 

The  prison-house,  where  chained  felons  pined, 
Threw  open  his  ponderous  dcors  ;  let  in  the  light 
Of  heaven  ;  and  grew  into  a  Church,  where  God 
Was  worshipped':  none  were  ignorant ;  selfish  none: 
Love  took  the  place  of  law  ;  where'er  you  met 
A  man,  you  met  a  friend,  sincere  and  true. 
Kind  looks  fof^told  as  kind  a  heart  within  ; 
Words  as  they  sounded,  meant ;  and  promise* 
Were  made  to  be  performed.    Thrice  bappy  day* ! 


134  THE  COUHSE  OF  TIME. 

Philosophy  was  sanctified,  and  saw 

Perfection,  whicti  stie  thought  a  fable  Ion?. 

Revenge  his  dagger  dropped,  and  kissed  the  hand 

Of  Mercy  :  Anger  cleared  his  cloudy  brow. 

And  sat  with  Peace  :  Envy  grew  red,  and  smiled 

On  Worth  :  Pride  stooped,  and  kissed  Humility  : 

Lust  washed  his  miry  hands,  and,  wedded,  leaned 

On  chaste  Desire  :  and  Falsehood  laid  aside 

His  many-folded  cloak,  and  bowed  to  Truth  : 

And  Treachery  up  from  his  mining  came. 

And  walked  above  the  ground  with  righteous  Faith  : 

And  Covetousness  unclenched  his  sinewy  hand, 

And  opened  his  door  to  Chari'.y,  the  fair  : 

Hatred  was  lost  in  Love  :  and  Vanity, 

With  a  good  conscience  pleased,  her  feathers  cropped: 

Sloth  in  the  morning  rose  wiih  Industry  : 

To  Wisdom,  Folly  turned  :  and  fashion  turned 

Decepiion  ofT,  id  act  as  good  as  word. 

The  hand  that  held  a  whip  was  lifted  up 

To  bless  J  slave  was  a  word  in  ancient  books 

Met  only  ;  every  man  was  free  ;  and  all 

Feared  God,  and  served  him  day  and  night  in  love. 

How  fair  the  daughter  of  Jerusalem  then  ! 
How  gloriously  from  Zion  Hill  she  looked  ! 
Clothed  with  the  sun  ;  and  in  her  train  the  moon  ; 
And  on  her  head  a  coronet  of  stars  ; 
And  girdling  round  her  waist,  with  heavenly  grace, 
The  bow  of  Mercy  bright ;  and  in  her  hand, 
Immanuel's  cross— her  sceptre,  and  her  hope. 

Desire  of  every  land  I  The  nations  came, 
And  worshipped  at  her  feet ;  all  nations  came, 
Flocking  like  doves.     Columba's  painted  tribes, 
That  from  Magellan  to  the  Frozen  Bay, 
Beneath  the  Arctic  dwelt,  and  drank  the  tides 
Of  Araazona,  prince  of  earthly  streims ; 
Or  slept  at  noon  beneath  the  giant  shade 
Of  Andes'  mount ;  or  roving  northward,  heard 
13 


BOOK  V,  J33 

Niagara  sin?,  from  Erie's  billow  down 

To  Frontenac,  and  )iUDted  thence  the  fur 

To  Labrador.    And  Afric's  dusky  swarnis, 

That  from  Morocco  to  Angola  dwelt, 

And  drank  the  Niger  from  his  native  wells, 

Or  roused  the  lion  in  Numidia's  groves  ; 

The  tribes  that  sat  among  the  fabled  cliffs 

Of  Atlas,  looking  lo  Atlanta's  wave, 

With  jny  and  melody  arose  and  came  ; 

Zara  awoke,  and  came  ;  and  Egypt  came, 

Casting  her  idol  gods  into  the  Nile. 

Black  Ethiopia,  that  shadowless, 

Beneath  the  Torrid  burned,  arose  and  came  : 

Dauma  and  Media,  and  the  pirate  tribes 

Of  Algeri,  with  incense  came,  and  pare 

Offerings,  annoying  now  the  seas  no  more. 

The  silken  tribes  of  Asia  flocking  came, 

Innumerous  ;  Ishmael's  wandering  race,  that  rode 

On  camels  o'er  the  spicy  tract  that  lay 

From  Persia  to  the  Red  Sea  coast :  ths  king 

Of  broad  Cathay,  wi'h  numbers  infinite. 

Of  many  lettered  casts  ;  and  all  the  tribes 

That  dwelt  from  Tigris  to  the  Ganges'  wave; 

And  worshipped  fire,  or  Brahma,  fabled  god  ! 

Cashmeres,  Circassians,  Banyans,  tender  race  ! 

That  swept  the  insect  from  their  path,  and  lived 

Or.  herbs  and  fruits  ;  and  those  who  peaceful  dwelt 

Along  the  shady  avenue  that  stretched 

From  Agra  lo  Lahore  :  and  all  the  hosts 

That  owned  the  Crescent  late,  deluded  long. 

The  Tartar  hordes  that  roamed  from  Oby's  bank, 

Ungovemed  southward  to  the  wondrous  Wall. 

The  tribes  of  Europe  came  ;  the  Greek  redeemed 

From  Turkish  thrall ;  the  Spaniard  came,  and  Gaol : 

And  Britain  with  her  ships  ;  and  on  his  sledge, 

'ilie  Laplander,  that  nightly  watched  the  beaj 

Circling  the  Pole  ;  and  those  who  saw  the  flames 

Of  Hecia  bum  the  drifted  snow  ;  the  Russ, 

Long  whiskered  and  equestrian  Pole  ;  and  those 


136  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

VVho  drank  the  Rhine,  or  lost  the  evening  sun 
Behind  the  Alpine  towers  ;  and  she  that  sat 
By  Arno,  classic  stream  ;  Venice  and  Rome, 
Head  quarters  long  of  sin  !  first  guileless  now. 
And  meanin?  as  she  seemed,  stretched  forth  her  hands. 
And  all  the  isJes  of  ocean,  rose  and  caine. 
Whether  they  heard  the  roll  of  banished  tides, 
Antipodes  to  Albion's  wave  ;  or  watched 
The  moon  ascending  chalky  Teneriffe, 
And  with  Atlanta  holding  nightly  love. 
The  Sun,  the  Moon,  the  Constellations  came  : 
Thrice  twelve  and  ten  that  "atch'd  the  Antarctic  slerp; 
Twice  six  that  near  the  Ecliptic  dwelt ;  thrice  twelve 
And  one,  that  with  the  Streamers  danced,  and  saw 
The  Hvperborean  ice  guarding  the  Pole. 
The  East,  the  West,  the  South,  and  snowy  North, 
Rejoicing  met,  and  worshipped  reverently 
Before  the  Lord,  in  Zion's  holy  hill  ; 
And  all  the  places  round  about  were  blest. 

The  animals,  as  once  in  Eden,  lived 
In  peace  :  the  wolf  dwelt  with  the  lamb  ;  the  bear 
And  leopard  with  the  ox  ;  with  looks  of  love. 
The  tiger,  and  the  scaly  crocodile. 
Together  met, at  Gambia's  palmy  wave: 
Perched  on  the  eagle's  wing,  the  bird  of  song, 
Singing  arose,  and  visited  the  sun  ; 
And  with  the  falcon  sat  the  gentle  lark. 
The  little  child  leaped  from  his  mother's  arms. 
And  stroked  the  crested  snake,  and  rolled  unhurt 
Among  his  speckled  waves — and  wished  him  home. 
And  sauntering  school-boys,  slow  returning,  played 
At  eve  about  the  lion's  den,  and  wove. 
Into  his  shaggy  mane,  fantastic  flowers : 
To  meet  the  husbandman,  early  abroad, 
Hasted  the  deer,  and  waved  its  woody  head : 
And  round  his  dewy  steps,  the  hare,  unscared. 
Sported ;  and  toyed  familiar  with  his  dog  : 
TTie  flocks  and  heriSs,  o'er  hill  and  valley  spread, 


BOOK  V.  137 

Exultine.  cropped  the  ever-buddin?  herb  : 
The  desert  blossomed,  and  the  barren  sung  : 
Justice  and  Mercy,  Holiness  and  Love, 
Among  the  people  walked  :  Messiah  reigned : 
And  earth  kept  Jubilee  a  thousand  years. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  VI. 

The  Bard  commences  to  sing  of  the  final  (Jeslruction 
of  the  earth.  But  checking  himself,  he  sings  of 
the  time  which  followed  the  millennial  rest. 

Impiety  and  ungodliness  abounded.  Active  ambition, 
and  indolent  sloth  regained  a  general  ascendency, 
and  siu  in  every  form,  as  had  existed  before  the 
millenQiura  was  renewed,  and  new  forms  were 
vented.  The  universal  contempt  of  God  was  whol 
If  wilful,  for  the  age  was  polished  and  enlightened 

Wondrous  sights  and  strange  forebodings  gave'presage 
of  the  earth's  approaching  dissolution.  Perplexed 
but  not  reformed, the  race  of  men  inquired  the  eX' 
planation  of  these  prodigies;  all  warnings  were  soon 
forgotten,  men  continued  following  their  guilty 
pleasures,  and  the  earth  filled  up  the  measure  of 
her  wickedness. 

A  pause  in  the  narrative  ;  as  the  numerous  hosts  of 
heaven  look  towards  the  unveiled  Godhead,  and 
join  in  the  evening  hymn  of  praise.  The  prophet 
Isaiah  takes  the  harp,  and  bef'-re  the  throne,  sings 
the  holy  song.  At  its  close  thousands  of  thousands 
Infinite,  devoutly  respoiid,  Amen. 


THE 

BOOK  VI. 


R. 


LiESUME  thy  tone  of  wo,  immortal  harp  ! 
The  song  of  mirth  is  past  ;  the  Jubilee 
Is  ended  ;  and  the  sun  begins  to  fade. 
Soon  past :  for  happiness  counts  not  the  hours  ; 
To  her  a  thousand  years  seem  as  a  day  ; 
A  day  a  thousand  years  to  misery. 
Satan  is  loose,  and  Violence  is  heard, 
And  Riot  in  the  s'reef,  and  Revelry 
Intoxicate,  and  Murder  and  Revenge. 
Put  on  youF  armor  now,  ye  righteous  !  put 
The  helmet  of  salvation  on,  and  gird 
Your  loins  about  with  truth  ;  add  righteousness. 
And  add  the  shield  of  faith  ;  and  take  the  sword 
Of  God  :  awake  !  and  watch:  the  day  is  near  ; 
Great  day  of  God  Almighty,  and  the  Lamb. 
The  harvest  of  the  earth  is  fully  ripe  : 
Vengeance  begins  to  tread  the  great  wine-press 
Of  fierceness  and  of  wrath  ;  and  mercy  pleads, 
Mercy  that  pleaded  long,  she  pleads  no  more. 
Whence  comes  that  darkness  ?  whence  those  yells  of 

wo  ? 
What  Ihunderings  are  these,  that  shaks  the  world  ? 
Why  fall  the  lamps  from  heaven  as  blasted  figs  ? 
Why  tremble  righteous  men  ?  why  angels  pale  ? 
Why  is  all  fear  ?  what  has  become  of  hope  ? 
God  comes  !  God  in  his  car  of  vengeance  comes  I 


142  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Hark  !  louder  on  the  blast,  come  hollow  shrieks 

Of  dissolution  ;  in  (he  filful  scowl 

Of  night,  near  and  more  near,  angels  of  death 

Incessant  flap  their  deadly  wings,  and  roar 

Thro' all  the  fevered  air:  the  mounlains  rock  ; 

The  moon  is  sick  ;  and  all  the  stars  of  heaven 

Burn  feeblj' ;  oft  aiKJ  sudden  gleams  the  fire, 

Revealing  awfully  the  brow  of  wralh. 

The  thunder,  long  and  loud,  utters  his  voice, 

Responsive  to  the  ocean's  troubled  growl. 

Kight  comes,  last  night ;  the  long,  dark,  dark,  dark 

night 
That  has  no  mom  beyond  it,  and  no  star. 
No  eye  of  man  hath  seen  a  niglit  like  this  ! 
Heaven's  trampled  justice  girds  itself  for  fight  J 
Earth  to  thy  knees,  and  cry  for  mercy  !  cry 
With  earnest  heart  ;  for  thou  art  growing  old 
And  hoary,  unrepented,  unforgiveu  : 
And  all  thy  glory  mourns  :  thy  vintage  mourns  ; 
Bashan  and  Carmel  mourn  and  weep  :  and  mourn 
Thou  Lebanon  !  with  all  thy  cedars  mourn. 
Sun  !  glorying  in  thy  strength  from  age  to  age, 
So  long  observant  of  thy  hour,  put  on 
Thy  weeds  of  wo,  and  lell  the  moon  to  weep  ! 
Utter  thv  grief  at  mid-day,  morn,  and  even  ; 
Tell  all'the  nations,  tell  the  clouds  that  sit 
About  the  portals  of  the  east  and  west. 
And  wanlon  with  thy  golden  locks,  to  wait 
Thee  not  to-morrow  ;  for  no  morrow  comes  ; 
Tell  men  and  women,  tell  the  new-tKjrn  child, 
And  every  eye  that  sees,  to  come,  and  see 
Thee  set  behind  Eiernily  ;  for  thou 
Shalt  go  to  bed  to-n  ght,  and  ne'er  awake. 
Stars  !  walking  on  the  pavement  of  the  sky  ; 
Out-sentinels  of  heaven  !  watching  the  earth. 
Cease  dancing  now  :  your  lamps  are  growing  dim  ) 
Your  graves  are  dug  among  the  dismal  clouds  ; 
And  angels  are  assembling  round  your  bier. 
Orion,  mourn  !  and  Mazzaroth,  and  thou. 


BOOK  VL  H3 

Arcfurus,  mourn  with  all  thy  northern  sons. 
Daughters  of  Pleiades  !  that  nightly  shed 
Sweet  influence  :  and  thou,  fairest  of  stars  : 
Eye  of  the  morning,  weep — and  weep  at  eve  ; 
"Weep  setting,  now  to  rise  no  more,  -'and  flame 
On  forehead~of  the  dawn" — as  sung  the  bard, 
Great  bard  !  who  used  on  Earth  a  seraph's  lyre, 
Whose  numbers  wandered  thro'  eternity, 
And  gave  sweet  foretaste  of  the  heavenly  harps. 
Minstrel  of  sorrow  !  native  of  the  ffark  '. 
Shrub-loving  Philomel  !  that  wooed  the  Dews 
At  midnight  from  their  starry  beds,  and  charmed. 
Held  Ihein  around  thy  song  till  dawn  awoke — 
Sad  bird  !  pour  thro'  'the  gloom  thy  weeping  song, 
Pour  all  thy  dying  melody  of  grief  ; 
And  with  the  turtle  spread  the  wave  of  wo— 
Spare  not  thy  reed,  for  thou  shall  sing  no  more. 

Ye  holy  bards  !  if  vet  a  hoiy  bard 
Remain,  what  chord  shall  serve  you  now  ?  what  harp . 
What  harp  shall  sing  the  dying  sun  asleep, 
And  mourn  behind  the  funeral  of  the  moon  ! 
What  harp  of  boundless,  deep,  eshaus'less  wo. 
Shall  utter  forth  the  groaningsof  the  damned  I 
And  sing  the  obsequies  of  wicked  souls  ; 
And  wall  their  plunge  in  the  eternal  fire! 
Hold,  hold  your  hands  ;  hold  angels ;  G  jd  laments. 
And  drasys  a  cloud  of  mourning  round  his  throne  ; 
The  Organ  of  eternity  is  mute  ; 
And  there  is  silence  in  the  Heaven  of  heavens. 

Daughters  of  oeauty  !  choice  of  beings  made  I 
Much  praised, much  blamed, much  loved;  tut  fairer  far 
Than  aught  beheld  ;  than  aught  imagined  else 
Fairest  ;  and  dearer  than  all  else  most  dear  : 
Light  of  the  darksome  wilderness!  to  Time 
As  stars  to  night — whose  eyes  were  spells  that  held 
The  passenser  forgetful  of  his  way  ; 
Whose  sUpe  were'majesiy ;  whose  words  were  song  : 


144  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Whose  smiles  were  hopejwhose  actions.perfect  grace; 

Whose  love  the  solace,  glorj'  and  delight 

Of  man,  his  boast,  his  riches,  his  renown  : 

When  found,  sufficient  bliss ;  when  lost,  despair  : 

Stars  of  creation  !  images  of  love  ! 

Break  up  tlie  fountains  of  your  tears  ;  your  tears 

More  eloquent  than  learned  tongue,  or  lyre 

Of  purest  note  ;  your  sunny  raiment  stain  ; 

Put  dust  upon  your  heads  ;  lament  and  weep  ; 

And  utter  all  yburminslrelsy  of  wo. 

Go  fo,  ye  wicked,  weep  and  howl  ;  for  all 
That  God  hath  written  against  you  is  at  hand. 
The  crv  of  violence  hath  reached  his  ear  ; 
Hell  is"  prepared  ;  and  Justice  whets  his  sword. 
Weep  all  of  every  name  :  be^in  the  wo, 
Ye  woods,  and  tell  it  to  the  doleful  winds  ; 
And  doleful  winds,  wail  to  the  howling  hills  ; 
And  howling  hills,  mourn  fo  thedismal  vales; 
And  d  ismal  vales,  si^h  to  the  sorrowing  brooks  ; 
And  sorrowing  brooks,  weep  to  the  weeping  stream; 
And  weeping  stream,  awake  the  groaning  deep  ; 
And  let  the  instrument  lake  up  the  song, 
Responsive  to  the  voice — harmonioos  wo  ! 
Ye  heavens,  great  archway  of  the  universe  ! 
Put  sackcloth  on  ;  and  Ocean,  clothe  thyself 
In  garb  of  widowhood,  and  gather  all 
Thy  waves  into  a  groan,  and  utter  it — 
Lone,  loud,  deep,  piercing,  dolorous,  immense  : 
The" occasion  asks  it ;  Nature  dies  ;  and  God, 
And  angels,  come  to  lay  her  in  the  grave  ! 

But  we  have  overleaped  our  theme  :  behind 
A  little  season  waits  a  verse  or  two  : 
The  years  that  followed  the  milleonial  rest. 
Bad  years  they  were  ;  and  first,  as  signal  sure, 
That  at  the  core  relijion  was  diseased, 
The  sons  of  Levi  strove  again,  for  place. 
And  eminence,  and  names  of  swelliu?  pomp. 


BOOK  VI,  14 

Setting  their  feet  upon  the  people's  neck, 

And  slumbering  in  the  lap  of  civil  power ; 

Of  civil  power  again  tyrannical. 

And  second  sign,  sure  sign,  whenever  seen, 

That  holiness  was  dying  in  a  land, 

The  Sabbath  was  profaned,  and  set  at  nought ; 

The  honest  seer,  who  spoke  the  truth  of  God 

Plainly,  was  left  with  empty  walls  ;  and  rooad 

The  frothy  orator  who  busked  his  tales 

In  quackish  pomp  of  noisy  words,  the  ear 

Tickling,  but  leaving  still  the  heart  unprobed, 

The  judgment  uninformed,— numbers  immense 

Flocked,"  gaping  wide,  wi(h  passions  high  inflamed 

And  on  the  way  reluming,  heated,  home, 

Of  eloquence  and  not  of  truth,  conversed — 

Mean  eloquence  that  wanted  sacred  truth. 

Two  principles  from  the  beginning  strove 
In  human  nature,  still  dividing  man — 
Sloth  and  activity,  the  lust  0/ praise, 
And  indolence,  that  rather  wished  to  sleep. 
And  not  unfrequently  in  the  same  mind. 
They  dubious  contest  held  ;  one  gaining  now, 
And  now  the  other  crowned,  and  both  again 
Keeping  the  field,  with  equal  combat  fought. 
Much  different  was  their  voice  :  Ambition  called 
To  action  ;  Sloth  invited  to  repose. 
Ambition  early  rose,  aod,  being  up. 
Toiled  ardently,  and  late  retired  to  rest  ; 
Sloth  lay  till  mid-day,  turning  on  his  couch. 
Like  ponderous  door  upon  its  weary  hinge. 
And  having  rolled  him  out  with  much  ado, 
And  many  a  dismal  sieh,  and  vain  attempt, 
He  sauntered  out  accoutred  carelessly — 
With  half-oped,  misty,  unabservanl  eye, 
Somniferous,  that  weighed  the  object  down 
On  which  its  burden  fell — an  hour  or  two. 
Then  with  a  groan  retired  so  rest  again. 
The  one,  whatever  deed  had  been  achieved, 
K 


146  THE  COURSE  Of  TIME. 

Thought  it  too  little,  and  too  small  the  praise  : 
The  other  tried  to  think,  for  thinking  so 
Answered  his  purpose  best,  that  what  of  great 
Mankind  could  do,  had  been  already  done  ; 
And  therefore  laid  him  calmly  down  to  sleep. 

DiflFerent  in  mode — destructive  both  alike  : 
Destructive  always  indolence  ;  and  love 
Of  fame  destructive  always  loo,  if  less 
Than  praise  of  God  it  sought,  content  with  less  j 
Even  then  not  current,  if  it  sought  his  praise 
From  other  motive  than  resistless  love  : 
Tho'  base,  main-spring  of  action  in  the  world  j 
And  under  name  of  vanity  and  pride, 
Was  greatly  practised  on  by  cunning  men. 
It  opened  the  nigjard's  puree  ;  clothed  nakedne«8  ; 
Gave  beggars  food  ;  and  threw  the  Pharisee 
Upon  his  "knees,  and  kept  him  long  in  act 
Of  prayer  ;  it  spread  the  lace  upon  the  fop, 
His  language  trimmed,  and  planned  his  curioQS  gait  | 
It  stuck  the  feather  on  the  gay  coquette, 
And  on  her  finger  laid  the  heavy  load 
Of  jewelry  ;  it  ^id— what  did  it  not  ? 
The  gospel  preached,  the  gospel  paid,  and  sent 
The  gospel  ;  conquered  nations  ;  cities  built  j 
Measured  the  furrow  of  the  field  with  nice 
Directed  share  ;  shaped  bulls,  and  cows,  and  rams  ; 
And  threw  the  ponderous  stone  ;  and  pitiful. 
Indeed,  and  much  against  the  grain,  it  dragged 
The  stasnant,  dull,  predestinated  fool. 
Thro'  learning's  halls,  and  made  him  labor  much 
Abortively  ;  tho'  sometimes  not  unpraised 
He  left  the  sage's  chair,  and  home  returned, 
Making  his  simple  mother  tnink  that  she 
Had  borne  a  man.    In  schools,  designed  to  root 
Sin  up,  and  plant  the  seeds  of  holiness 
In  youthful  minds,  it  held  a  signal  place. 
The  little  infant  man,  by  nature  proud, 
"Was  taught  the  Scriptures  by  the  love  of  praise, 


BOOK  VI.  147 

Aud  grew  religions  as  he  grew  in  fame. 
And  thus  the  principle,  which  out  of  heaven 
The  devil  threw,  and  threw  him  down  to  hell, 
And  keeps  him  there,  was  made  an  instrument 
To  moralize,  and  sanctify  mankind  ; 
And  in  their  hearts  beget  humility  : 
With  what  success  it  needs  not  now  to  say. 

Destructive  both  we  said,  activity, 
And  sloth— behold  the  last  exemplified, 
In  literary  man.     Not  all  at  once. 
He  yielded  to  the  soothing  voice  of  sleep ; 
But  having  seen  a  bough  of  laurel  wave, 
He  effort  made  to  climb  ;  and  friends,  and  even 
Himself,  talked  of  his  greatness,  as  at  hand. 
And  prophesying  drew  his  future  life. 
Vain  prophecy  !  his  fancy,  taught  by  sloth. 
Saw  in  the  very  threshold  of  pursuit, 
A  thousand  obstacles  ;  he  halted  first, 
And  while  he  halted,  saw  his  burning  hopes, 
Grow  dim  and  dimmer  still  ;  ambition's  self, 
The  advocate  of  loudest  toneue,  decayed  ; 
His  purposes,  made  daily,  daily  broken. 
Like  plant  uprooted  oft,  and  set  again. 
More  sickly  grew,  and  daily  wavered  more 
Till  at  the  last,  decision,  quite  worn  out, 
Decision,  fulcrum  of  the  mental  powers, 
Resigned  the  blasted  soul  to  staggering  chance  ; 
Sleep  gathered  fast,  and  weighed  him  downward  still; 
His  eye  fell  heavy  from  the  mount  of  fame  , 
His  young  resolves  to  benefit  the  world. 
Perished,  and  were  forgotten  ;  he  shut  his  ear 
Against  the  painful  news  of  rising  worth  ; 
And  drank  with  desperate  thirst  "the  poppy's  juice  ; 
A  deep  and  mortal  slumber  settled  down, 
Upon  his  weary  faculties  oppressed  ; 
He  rolled  from  side  to  side,  and  rolled  again  ; 
And  snored,  and  groaned,  and  withered,  and  expired, 
And  rotted  on  the  spot,  leaving  no  came. 
K2 


148  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

The  hero  best  example  ^ives  of  toil 
Uusanclified.    One  word  his  history  writes  : 
He  was  a  murderer  above  the  laws. 
And  greatly  praised  for  doing  murderous  deeds  : 
And  now  he  grew,  and  reached  his  perfect  growth  ; 
And  also  now  the  slu2£;ard  soundest  slept, 
Aud  by  him  lay  the  uninterred  corpse. 

Of  every  order,  sin  and  wickedness, 
Deliberale,  cool,  malicious  villany, 
This  age,  attained  maturity,  unknown 
Before  :  and  seemed  in  travail  lo  bring  forth 
Some  last,  enormous,  monstrous  deed  of  guilt- 
Original,  unprecedented  guilt, 
That  might  obliterate  the  memory 
Of  what  had  hitherto  been  done  most  vile. 
Inventive  men  were  paid,  at  public  cost. 
To  plan  new  modes  of  sin  :  the  holy  word 
Of  God  was  burned    with  acclamations  loud  : 
New  tortures  were  invented  for  the  good  : 
For  still  some  good  remained,  as  whiles  thro'  sky 
Of  thickest  clouds,  a  wandering  star  appeared  : 
New  oaths  of  blasphemy  were  framed,  and  sworn : 
And  men  in  reputation  grew,  as  grew 
The  statuie  of  their  crimes.    Fairh  was  not  found  ; 
Truth  was  not  found  ;  truth  always  scarce ;  so  scarce 
That  half  the  misery  which  groaned  on  earth, 
In  ordinary  times,  was  progeny 
Of  disappointment  daily  coming  forth 
From  broken  promises,  that  might  have  ne'er 
Been  made,  or  being  made,  might  have  been  kept. 
Justice  and  mercy  loo  were  rare,  obscured 
In  cottage  garb  :  before  the  palace  door, 
The  beggar  rotted,  s'arving  in  his  rags  : 
And  on  the  threshold  of  luxurious  domes, 
The  orphan  child  laid  down  his  head,  and  died  ; 
Nor  unamusing  »vas  hispiteouscry 
To  women,  who  had  now  laid  tenderness 
Aside,  best  pleased  with  sights  of  cnjelty  ; 


BOOK  VL  1/ 

Flocking,  when  fouler  lusts  would  give  them  lime, 

To  horrid  spedacles  of  blood  ;  where  men, 

Or  guiltless  beasts,  that  seemed  to  look  to  heaven, 

With  eye  imploring  vengeance  on  the  earth, 

Were  tortured  for  the  merriuient  of  kings. 

The  advocate  for  him  who  otTered  most 

Pleaded  ;  the  scribe,  according  to  the  hire, 

Worded  the  lie,  adding  for  every-  piece. 

An  oath  of  confirmation  ;  judges  raised 

One  hand  to  intimate  the  sentence,  death, 

Imprisonment,  or  fine,  or  loss  of  goods, 

And  in  the  other  held  a  lusty  bribe 

Which  they  had  taken  to  give  the  sentence  wrong  i 

So  managing  the  scale  of  justice  still, 

That  he  was  wanting  found  who  poorest  seemed. 

But  laymen,  most  renowned  for  devilish  deeds, 
Labored  at  distance  still  behind  the  priest  : 
He  shore  bis  sheep,  and  having  packed  the  wool, 
Sent  them  unguarded  to  the  hill  of  wolves  ; 
And  to  the  bowl  deliberately  sat  down, 
And  with  his  mistress  mocked  at  sacred  things. 

The  theatre  was  from  the  very  first 
The  favorite  haunt  of  sin  ;  tlio'  honest  men, 
Some  very  honest,  wise,  and  worthy  men, 
Maintained  it  might  be  turned  to  good  account  ; 
And  so  perhaps  it^might ;  but  never  was. 
From  first  to  last  it  was  an  evil  place  : 
And  now  such  tilings  were  acted  there,  as  made 
The  devils  blush  :  and  from  the  neighborhood, 
Angels  and  holy  men  trembling  retired. 
And  what  with  dreadful  aggravation  crowned 
This  dreary  time  was  ain  against  the  light : 
All  men  knew  God,  and  knowing,  disobeyed  » 
And  gloried  to  insult  him  to  his  face. 

Another  feature  only  we  shall  mark. 
It  was  withal  a  highly  polished  age, 
K3 


150  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  scrupulous  in  ceremonious  rite. 
When  stranger  stranger  met  upon  the  way, 
First  each  to  each  bowed  most  respectfully. 
And  large  profession  made  of  humble  service, 
And  then  the  stronger  took  the  other's  purse. 
And  he  that  stabbed  his  neighbor  to  the  heart, 
Stabbed  him  politely,  and  returced  the  blade 
Reeking  into  its  sheath,  with  graceful  air. 

Meantime  the  earth  gave  symptoms  of  her  end ; 
And  all  (be  scenery  above  proclaimed. 
That  the  great  last  catastrophe  was  near. 
The  siin  at  rising  staggered  and  fell  back  ; 
As  one  (oO  early  up,  after  a  night 
Of  late  debauch  ;  then  rose  and  shone  again. 
Brighter  than  wont  ;  and  sickened  again,  and  paused 
In  zenith  altitude,  as  one  fatigued  ; 
And  shed  a  feeble  twilight  ray  at  noon. 
Rousing  the  wolf  before  his  time  to  chase 
The  shepherd  and  his  sheep,  that  sought  for  light. 
And  darkness  found,  astonished,  terrified  ; 
Then  out  of  course  rolled  furious  down  the  west. 
As  chariot  reined  by  awkward  charioteer  ; 
And  waiting  at  the  gate,  he  on  the  earth 
Gazed,  as  he  thought  he  ne'er  might  see't  again. 
The  bow  of  mercy,  heretofore  so  fair, 
Ribbed  with  the  native  hues  of  heavenly  love, 
Disastrous  colors  showed,  unseen  till  now  ; 
Changing  upon  the  watery  gulph,  from  pale 
To  fiery  red,  and  back  again  to  pale  j 
And  o'er  it  hovered  wings  of  wrath.     The  moon. 
Swaggered  in  midst  of  heaven,  grew  black,  and  dark. 
Unclouded,  uneclipsed.     The  stars  fell  down  ; 
Tumbling  from  ofFtheir  towers  like  drunken  men  ; 
Or  seemed  to  fall — and  glimmered  now  ;  and  now 
Sprang  out  in  sudden  blaze  ;  and  dimmed  again  ; 
As  lamp  of  foolish  virgin  lacking  oil. 
The  heavens  this  moment  looked  serene  ;  the  next 
Glowed  like  an  oven  with  God's  displeasure  hot. 


BOOK  VL  151 

Nor  less  below  was  intima'ion  given 
Of  some  disaster  great  and  ultimate. 
The  tree  that  bloomed,  or  hung  with  clustering  fruit, 
Untouched  by  visible  calamity 
Of  frost  or  temppst,  died  and  came  again  : 
The  flov/er,  and  herb,  fell  down  as  sick  j  then  rose 
And  fell  again  :  the  fowls  of  every  hue, 
Crowding  together  sailed  on  weary  wing. 
And  hovering,  oft  they  seemed  about  to  light ; 
Then  soared,  as  if  they  thought  the  earth  unsafe  : 
The  cattle  looked  with  meaning  face  on  naan  : 
Dogs  howled,  and  seemed   to  see  more  than  their 

masters  : 
And  there  were  sights  that  none  had  seen  before  ; 
And  hollow,  strar.ge,  unprecedented  sounds  : 
And  earnest  whisperings  ran  along  the  hills 
At  dead  of  night  ;  and  long,  deep,  endless  sighs. 
Came  from  the  dreary  vale  ;  and  from  the  waste 
Came  horrid  shrieks,  and  fierce  unearthly  groans, 
The  wail  of  evil  spirits,  that  now  felt 
The  hour  of  utter  vengeance  near  at  hand. 
The  winds  from  every  quarter  blew  at  once, 
With  desperate  violence,  and  whirling,  took 
The  traveller  up,  and  threw  him  down  again, 
At  distance  from  his  path,  confounded,  pale. 
And  shapes,  strange  shapes  !  in  winding  sheets  were 

seen. 
Gliding  thro"  night,  and  singing  funeral  songs, 
And  imitating  sad  sepulchral  rites  : 
And  voices  talked  among  the  clouds  ;  aud  still 
The  words  that  men  couid  catch, were  spoken  of  them. 
And  seenied  to  be  the  words  of  wonder  great, 
And  expectation  of  some  vast  event. 
Earth  shook,  and  swam,  and  reeled,  and  opened  her 

jaws. 
By  earthquake  tossed,  and  tumbled  to  and  fro  : 
And  Inuder  than  the  ear  of  man  had  heard. 
The  thunder  bellowed,  and  the  ocean  groaned. 


J52  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

The  race  of  men,  perplexed,  birt  not  reformed, 
yiocking  together,  stood  in  earnest  crowds, 
Conversing  of  the  awful  state  of  things. 
Some  curious  explanations  save,  unlearned  ; 
Some  tried  affectedly  to  laugh  ;  and  some 
Gazed  stupidly  ;  but  all  were  sad,  anJ  pale  ; 
And  wished  the  comment  of  the  wise.    Nor  less, 
These  prodigies,  occurring  night  and  day, 
Perplexed  philosophy  :  the  niagi  tried — 
Magi,  a  name  not  seldom  given  to  fools, 
In  the  vocabulary  of  earthly  speech — 
They  tried  to  trace  them  still  to  second  cause  ; 
Eul  scarcely  satisfied  themselves  ;  Iho'  round 
Their  deep  deliberations  crowding  came. 
And  wondering  at  their  wisdom,  went  away, 
Much  quieted,  and  very  much  deceived. 
The  people,  always  glad  to  be  deceived. 

These  warnings  passed — Ihey  unregarded  passed  : 
And  all  in  wonted  order  calmly  moved. 
The  pulse  of  Nature  regularly  beat. 
And  on  her  cheek  the  bloom  of  perfect  health 
Ajain  appeared.     Deceitful  pulse  !  and  bloom 
Deceitful;  and  deceitful  calm  !  The  Earth 
Was  old  and  worn  within  ;  but  like  the  man. 
Who  noticed  not  his  mid.day  streng'th  decline. 
Sliding  so  gently  round  the  curvature 
Of  life,  from  youth  to  age — she  knew  it  not. 
The  calm  "as  like  the  calm,  which  oft  the  man 
Dying,  experienced  before  his  death  ; 
The  blo'im  was  but  a  hectic  flush,  before 
The  eternal  paleness  :  but  all  these  were  taken, 
By  this  last  race  of  men,  for  tokens  of  good. 
And  blustering  public  News,  aloud  proclaimed, 
News  always  gabbling,  ere  they  well  had  thought, 
Prosperity,  and  joy,  and  peace  ;  and  mocked 
The  man  who  kneeling  prayed,  and  trembled  still  : 
And  all  in  earnest  to  their  sins  returned. 


BOOK  XL 

It  was  not  80  in  heaven — the  elders  round 
The  throne  conversed  about  the  state  of  man, 
Conjecturing,  for  none  of  certain  knew, 
That  Time  was  at  an  end.    They  gazed  intense 
Upon  the  Dial's  face,  which  yonder  stands 
In  gold,  before  the  Sun  of  Righteousness, 
Jehovah  ;  and  computes  times,  seasons,  years, 
And  destinies  ;  and  slowly  numbers  o'er 
The  mighty  cycles  of  eternity  ; 
By  God  alone' completely  understood  ; 
But  read  by  all,  revealing  much  to  all. 
And  now  to  saints  of  eldest  skill,  the  ray, 
Which  on  the  gnomon  fell  of  Time,  seemed  sent 
From  level  west,  and  hasting  quickly  down. 
The  holy  Virtues  watching,  saw  besides, 
Great  preparation  going  on  in  heaven, 
Betokening  great  event ;  greater  than  aught 
That  first  created  seraphim  had  seen. 
The  faithful  messengers,  who  have  for  wing 
The  lightning,  waiting  day  and  night,  on  God 
Before  his  face — beyond  their  usual  speed, 
On  pinion  of  celestial  light  were  seen, 
Coming  and  going,  and  their  road  was  still 
From  heaven  to  earth,  and  back  again  to  heaven. 
The  angel  of  Mercy,  bent  tiefore  the  Throne, 
By  earnest  pleading,  seemed  to  hold  the  hand 
Of  vengeance  back,  and  win  a  moment  more 
Of  la'e  repentance  for  some  sinful  world 
In  jeopardy.     And  now  the  hill  of  God, 
The  mountain  of  his  majesty,  rolled  flames 
Of  fire  ;  now  smiled  with  momentary  love  ; 
And  now  again  with  fiery  fierceness  burned  ; 
And  from  behind  the  darknea  of  his  Throne, 
Through  which  created  vision  never  saw, 
The  living  thunders  in  their  native  caves. 
Muttered  the  terrors  of  Omnipntenre, 
And  ready  seemed,  impatient  to  fulfil 
Some  errand  of  exterminating  Avrath. 


154  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Meanwhile  the  Earth  increased  in  wickedness ; 
And  hasted  daily  to  fill  up  her  cup. 
Satan  raged  loose;  Sin  had  her  will ;  and  Death 
Enough  :  blood  trod  upon  the  heels  of  blood  ; 
Revenge,  in  desperate  mood,  at  midnight  met 
Revena;e  ;  war  brayed  to  war  ;  deceit  deceived 
Deceit;  lie  cheated  lie;  and  treachery 
Mined  under  treachery  ;  and  perjury 
Swore  bacit  on  perjury  ;  and  biasphemy 
Arose  with  hideous  blasphemy  ;  and  curse 
Loud  answered  curse  ;  and  drunkard  stumbling  fell 
O'er  drunkard  fallen  ;  and  husband  husband  met 
Returning  each  from  other's  bed  defiled  ; 
Thief  stole  from  thief  ;  and  robber  on  the  way 
Knocked  robber  down  ;  and  lewdness,  violence, 
And  hate,  met  lewdness,  violence,  and  hate. 
Oh  Earth  !  thy  hour  was  come  ;  the  Ust  elect 
Was  born  ;  complete  the  number  of  the  good  ; 
And  the  last  sand  fell  from  the  glass  of  Time. 
The  cup  of  guilt  was  full  up  to  the  brim  ; 
And  Mercy,  weary  with  beseeching,  had 
Retired  behind  the  sword  of  Justice,  red 
With  ultimate  and  unrepeiiting  wrath  : 
But  man  knew  not :  he  o'er  his  bowl  laughed  loud  ; 
And  iirophesying,  said  :  To-morrow  shall 
As  this  day  be,  and  more  abvmdant  still — 
As  thou  shalt  hear.    But  hark  !  the  trumpet  sounds 
And  calls  to  evening  eong  ;  for,  though  with  hymn 
Eternal,  course  succeeding  course,  extol 
In  presence  of  the  mcarnale,  holy  God, 
And  celebrate  his  never  ending  praise- 
Duly  at  morn,  and  night,  the  multitudes 
Of  men  redeemed,  and  angels,  all  the  host 
Of  glory,  join  in  universal  song  ; 
And  pour  celestial  harmony,  from  harps 
Above  all  number,  eloquent  and  sweet, 
Above  all  thought  of  melody  conceived. 
And  now  behold  the  fair  inhabitants. 
Delightful  Eight !  from  numerous  busine^  tum, 


And  round  and  round  thro'  all  the  extent  of  bliss, 
Towards  the  temple  of  Jehovah  bow, 
And  worship  reverently  iDefore  bis  face! 

Pursuits  are  various  here,  suiting  all  tastes  ; 
Tho'  holy  all,  and  glorifyin?  God. 
Observe  yon  baud  pursue  the  sylvan  stream, 
Mounting  amon;  the  clitfs— they  pull  the  flower, 
Springing  as  soon  as  pulled  ;  and  marvelling,  pry 
Into  itsvems,  and  circulating  blood, 
And  wondrous  mimicry  of  higher  life  ; 
Admire  its  colors,  fragrance,  gentle  shape  ; 
And  thence  admire  the  God  who  made  it  so— 
So  simple,  complex,  and  so  beautiful. 

Behold  yon  other  band,  in  airy  robes 
Of  bliss — they  weave  the  sacred  bower  of  rose 
And  myrtle  shade,  and  shadowy  verdant  bay, 
And  laurel,  towering  high  ;  and  round  their  song, 
The  pink  and  lily  bring,  and  amaranth  ; 
Narcissus  sweet,  and  jassamine  ;  and  bring 
The  clustering  vine,  stooping  with  flower  and  fruit, 
The  peach  and  orange,  and  the  sparkling  stream, 
Warbling  with  nectar  to  their  lips  unasked  j 
And  talkthe  while  of  everlasting  love. 

On  yonder  hill,  behold  another  band, 
Of  piercing,  steady,  intellectual  eye, 
And  spacious  forehead,  of  sublimest  thought — 
They  reason  deep  of  present,  future,  past ; 
And  trace  efTect  to  cause  ;  and  meditate 
On  the  eternal  laws  of  God,  which  bind 
Circumference  to  centre  ;  and  survey 
With  optic  tubes,  that  fetch  remotest  stars 
Near  them,  the  systems  circling  round  i 
Innumerous.     See  how — as  he,  the  sage. 
Among  the  most  renowned  in  days  of  Time, 
Renowned  for  large,  capacious,  holy  soul — 
Demonstrates  clearly,  motion,  gravity. 
Attraction,  and  repulsion,  still  opposed  ; 


156  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  dips  into  the  deep,  original, 
Unknown,  mysterious  elements  of  thinss — 
See  how  the  face  of  every  auditor 
Expands  with  admiration  of  the  skill, 
OmnipoteDce,  and  boundless  love  of  God  ! 

These  other,  sitting  near  the  tree  of  life, 
In  robes  of  linen  flowing  white  and  clean. 
Of  holiest  aspect,  of  divinest  sou!, 
Ansels  and  men — into  the  glory  look 
Of  the  Redeeming  Love,  and  turn  the  leares 
Of  man's  redemption  o'er  ;  the  secret  leaves, 
Which  none  on  earth  were  found  worthy  to  open  ; 
And  as  they  read  the  mysteries  divine. 
The  endless  mysteries  of  Salvation  wrooght 
By  God's  incarnate  Son,  thev  humller  bow 
Before  the  Lamb,  and  glow'with  warmer  love. 

These  other,  there  relaxed  beneath  the  shade 
Of  yon  embowering  palms,  with  friendship  smile, 
And  talk  of  ancient  days,  and  young  pursuits. 
Of  dangers  past,  of  godiy  triumphs  won; 
And  sing  the  legends  of  their  native  land — 
Less  pleasing  far  than  this  their  Father's  honse. 

Behold  that  other  band,  half  lifted  up 
Between  the  hill  and  dale,  rec'ined  beneath 
The  shadow  of  impending  rocks  ;  'mong  streams 
And  thundering  water-falls,  and  waving  boughs. 
That  hand  of  countenance  sublime,  and  sweet. 
Whose  eye  with  piercing  intellectual  ray, 
I>ow  beams  severe,  or  now  bewildered  seems  ; 
Lf:(t  rolling  wild,  or  fixed  in  idle  eaze, 
V/hile  Fancy,  and  the  soul  are  far  from  home— 
Ttiese  hold  the  pencil — art  divine  !  and  throw 
Before  the  eve  remembered  scenes  of  love  j 
Each  picturing  to  each  the  hills,  and  skies, 
And  treasure.!  stories  of  the  world  he  left : 
Or,  gazing  on  the  scenery  of  heaven. 


BOOK  VI.  !( 

They  dip  their  haivJ  in  color's  native  well, 
And,  on  the  everiastin?  canvass,  dash 
Figures  of  glory,  imasery  divine. 
With  grace  and  grandeur  in  perfection  knit. 

But  whatso'er  these  spirits  blest  pursue. 
Where'er  Ihey  so,  whatever  sights  they  see 
Of  glory  and  bliss  thro'  all  the  tracts  of  heaven 
The  centre  still,  the  figare  eminent. 
Whither  they  ever  turn,  on  whom  all  eyes 
Repose  with'infinite  delight — is  God, 
And  his  Incarnate  Son,  the  Lamb,  once  slaia 
On  Calvary  to  ransom  ruined  men. 

None  idle  here  :  look  where  thou  wilt,  they  all 
Are  active,  all  engaged  in  meet  pursuit ; 
Not  happy  else.     Hence  is  it   that  the  song 
Of  heaven  is  ever  new  ;  for  daily  thus, 
And  nightly,  new  discoveries  are  made. 
Of  God's  unbounded  wisdom,  power,  and  love, 
Which  give  the  understanding  larger  room. 
And  swell  the  hymn  with  ever-growing  praise. 

Behold  they  cease  !  and  every  face  to  God 
Turns  ;  and  we  pause,  from  high  poetic  theue, 
Not  worthy  least  of  being  sung  in  heaven, 
And  on  unveiled  Godhead  look  from  this. 
Our  oft  frequented  hill.— Re  takes  the  harp. 
Not  needs  to  seek  befitting  phrase  ;  unsought, 
Numbers  harmonious  roUalong  the  lyre,      , 
As  river  in  its  native  bed,  they  flow 
Spontaneous,  flowing  with  the  tide  of  thought. 
He  takes  the  harp  —a  bard  of  Judah  leads 
This  nizht  the  boundless  song  ;  the  bard  that  once, 
When  Israel's  king  was  sad  and  sick  to  death, 
A  message  brought  of  fifteen  added  years. 
Before  the  throne  he  stands  sublime,  in  robes 
Of  glory  ;  and  now  his  6ngers  wake  the  chords 
To  praise,  ^^  hich  we,  and  all  in  heaven  repeat. 


158  THE  COURSE  OV  TIME. 

Harps  of  eternity  !  begin  the  song, 
Redeemed,  and  angel  harps  !  bejjin  to  God, 
Bejin  the  anthem  ever  ssveetand  new, 
While  I  extol  Him  holy,  just,  and  good. 
Life,  beauty,  light,  intelligence,  and  love  ! 
Eternal,  uncreated,  infinite  ! 
Unsearchable  Jehovah  !  God  of  truth  ! 
Maker,  upholder,  governor  of  all  : 
Thyself  unmade,  ungoverned,  unupheld. 
Omnipotent,  unchangeable.  Great  God  ! 
Exhaustless  fullness  !  giving  unimpaired  ! 
Bounding  immensity,  unspread,  unbound  ! 
Highest  and  best  !  beginning,  middle,  end. 
All  seeing  Eye  !  all  seemg,  and  unseen  ! 
Hearing,  unheard  !  all  knowing,  and  unknown  ! 
Above  all  praise  !  above  all  height  of  thought  I 
Proprietor  of  immortality  ! 
Glory  ineffable  !  Bliss  underived  ! 
Of  old  thou  built'st  thy  throne  on  righteousness, 
Before  the  morning  Stars  their  song  began. 
Or  silence  heard  the  voice  of  praise.    Thou  laid'st 
Eternity's  foundation  stone,  and  saw'st 
Life  and  existence  out  of  Thee  begm. 
Mysterious  more,  the  more  displayed,  where  still 
Upon  thy  glorious  Throne  thou  sitt'st  alone  ; 
Hast  sat  alone  ;  and  shalt  forever  sit 
Alone  ;  invisible,  immortal  One  ! 
Behind  essential  brightntss  unbeheld. 
Incomprehensible  !  what  weight  shall  weigh  ! 
What  measure  measure  Thee ,  what  know  ve  more, 
Of  Thee,  what  need  to  know,  than  Thou  hast   taught 
And  bid'tt  us  still  repeat,  at  morn  and  even — 
God  !  everlasting  Father  I  Holy  One  ! 
Our  God,  our  Father,  our  Eternal  All. 
Source  whence  we  came  ;  and  whither  we  return  ; 
Who  made  our  spirits,  who  our  bodies  made  ; 
Who  made  the  heaven,  who  made  the  flowery  hod  ; 
Who  made  all  made  ;  who  orders,  governs  all  ; 
Who  walks  npon  the  wind  ;  who  holds  the  wave 


BOOK  VI.  159 

In  hollow  of  (hy  hand ;  whom  thunders  waif : 
Whom  tempests  serve  ;  whom  flaming  fires  obey  : 
Who  guides  the  circuit  of  the  endless  years  : 
And  sitt'st  on  high,  and  mak'st  creation's  top 
Thy  footstool  ;  and  behold'st  below  Thee.  all- 
All  naught,  all  less  than  naught,  and  vanity. 
Like  transient  dust  that  hovers  on  the  scale, 
Ten  thousand  worlds  are  scattered  in  thy  breath. 
Thou  sitt'st  on  high,  and  measures  destinies. 
And  days,  and  monlhs,  and  wide  revolving  years  : 
And.dost  according  to  thy  holy  will  ; 
And  none  can  stay  thy  hand  ;  and  none  withhold 
Thy  gliiry  ;  for  in  judgment,  Thou,  as  well 
As  mercy,  art  exalted,  day  and  night. 
Past,  present,  future,  magnify  thy  name. 
Thy  works  all  praise  Thee  ;  all  thy  angels  praise, 
Thy  saints  adore,  and  on  thy  altars  bum 
The  fragrant  incense  of  perpetual  love. 
They  praise  Thee  now  :    their  hearts,  their  voices 

praise, 
And  swell  the  rapture  of  the  glorious  song. 
Harp  !  lift  thy  voice  on  high — shout,  angels,  shout ! 
And  loudest  ye  redeemed  !  glory  to  God, 
And  to  the  Lamb,  who  bought  us  with  his  blood  ; 
From  every  kindred,  nation,  people,  tongue; 
And  washed,  and  sanctified,  and  saved  our  souls  ; 
And  gave  us  robes  of  Imen  pure,  and  crowns 
Of  life,  and  made  us  kings  and  priests  to  God. 
Shout  back  to  ancient  Time  !  Sing  aloud,  and  wave 
Your  palms  of  triumph  !  sine,  where  is  thy  sting, 
O  Death  ?  where  is  thy  victory,  0  Grave  ? 
Thanks  be  to  God,  eternal  thanks,  who  gave 
Us  victory  through  Jesas  Christ,  our  Lord. 
Harp,  lift  thy  voice  on  high  !  shout,  angels  shout! 
And  loudest  ye  redeemed  !  glory  to  God, 
And  to  the  Lamb — all  glory  and  all  praise  ; 
All  glory  and  all  praise,  at  morn  and  even. 
That  come  and  go  eternally  ;  and  find 
Us  happy  still,  and  Thee  forever  blest ! 


IGO  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Glory  to  God,  and  to  the  Lamb.    Amen. 
Forever,  and  forever  more.    Amen. 

And  those  who  stood  upon  the  sea  of  glass  ; 
And  those  who  stood  upon  the  battlements, 
And  lofty  towers  of  New  Jerusalem  ; 
And  those  who  circling  stood,  bowing  afar  ; 
Exalted  on  the  everlastin?  hills. 
Thousands  of  thousands— thousands  infinite — 
With  voice  of  boundless  love,  answered  :  Amen. 
And  through  eternity,  near,  and  remote. 
The  worlds  adorine,  echoed  back :  Amen. 
And  God  the  Fatlier,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost— 
The  One  Eternal  !  smiled  superior  bliss. 
And  every  eye,  and  every  face  in  heaven. 
Reflecting,  and  reflected,  beamed  with  love. 

Nor  did  he  not— the  Virtue  new  arrived. 
From  Godhead  g?.in  an  individual  smile. 
Of  high  acceptance,  and  of  ivelcome  high, 
And  confirmation  evermore  in  good. 
Meantime  the  landscape  glowed  with  holy  joy. 
Zephyr,  with  wing  dipt  from  the  well  of  life, 
Sporting  through  Paradise,  shed  living  dews  : 
The  flowers,  the  spicy  shrubs,  the  lawns  refreshed, 
Breathed  iheir  selectest  balm  ;  breathed  odors,  snch 
As  angels  love  :  and  all  the  trees  of  heaven, 
The  cedar,  pine,  and  everlasting  oak, 
Bejoicing  on  the  naountains,  clapped  their  bands. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME, 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  VII. 

After  the  Hymn,  the  relation  is  resumed.  The  trans- 
formation of  the  living,  Ihe  resurrection  otthe  dead, 
and  Ihe  destruction  of  the  Earth. 

On  the  morn  of  the  fiual  day  al!  the  appearances  of 
nature  were  as  usual,  at  midday  universal  darkness 
prevailed,  and  all  action,  all  motion  ceased  :  and 
an  angel  from  heaven  proclaimed  "Time  should 
be  no  more."  And  another  Angel  sounded  the 
Trump  of  God,  when  the  dead  awoke,  and  the 
living  vrere  changed. 

A  description  of  the  circumstances  connecied  with  the 
momentous  scene  ;  the  living  were  changed  in  the 
midst  of  their  several  numerous  avocations;  in  labor, 
study,  pleasure,  or  crimes.  The  dead  of  every 
age  and  place  raised  to  life  ;  in  the  cultivated  field, 
in  the  wilderness ,  in  populous  cities,  in  the  midst 
of  ancient  ruins,  and  from  the  great  ocean. 


THE 

(touvnt  of  Kimt 

BOOK  VII. 


As, 


1  one  who  meditates  at  evening  tide, 
Wanderin;  aJone  by  voiceless  soIituJes, 
And  flies  in  lancy,  far  beyond  the  bounds 
Of  viiible  and  vulgar  things,  and  things 
Discovered  liitherto,  pursuing  tracts 
As  yet  untravelled,  and  unknown,  thro'  vast 
Of  new  and  sweet  imaginings  ;  if  chance 
Some  airy  harp,  waked  by  the  gentle  sprites 
Of  twilight,  or  lighc  touch  of  sylvan  maid, 
In  soft  succession  fall  upnn  his  ear. 
And  till  the  desert  with  jts  heavenly  tones  ; 
He  listens  intense,  and  pleased  exceedingly, 
And  wishes  it  may  never  stop  ;  yet  when 
It  stops,  grieves  not  ;  bul  to  his  former  thoughts 
Wi'.h  fondest  haste  returns  :  sn  did  the  Seer, 
So  did  his  audience,  after  worship  past, 
A.nd  praise  in  heaven,  return  to  sing,  to  hear 
Of  man  ;  r.U  worthy  less  the    sacred  lyre 
Or  (he  attentive  ear  :  and  thus  the  bartl, 
Isot  unbesought,  again  resumed  bis  song. 

In  cus'nmed  glory  bright,  that  mom  the  sun 
Rose,  visiting  the  earth  with  light,  and  heat. 
And  joy  ;  ami  seemed  as  full  of  youth,  and  strong 
To  mount  the  steep  of  heaven,  as  when  the  Sfars, 


164  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  morning  snng  to  his  first  dawn,  and  rii^ht 
Fled  from  liis  face  :  the  spacious  Jky  received 
Him  blushing  as  a  bride,  when  on  her  looked 
The  bridegroom  :  and  spread  out  beneath  his  eye, 
Earch  smiled.     Up  to  his  warm  embrace  the  dews, 
That  all  night  long  had  wept  hi^  absence,  flew  : 
The  herbs  and  flowers,  their  fragrant  stores  unlocked, 
And  gave  the  wanton  breeze,  that  newly  woke. 
Revelled  in  sweets,  and  from  its  wings  shook  health, 
A  thousand  grateful  smells  :  the  joyous  woods 
Dried  in  his  beams  iheir  locks,  wet  with  the  drops 
Of  night :  and  all  the  sons  of  music  sung 
TTieir  matin  song  ;  from  arbored  bower,  the  tbmsh 
Concerting  with  the  lark  that  hymned  on  high  : 
On  the  green  hill  the  flocks,  and  in  the  vale 
The  herds  rejoiced  :  and  ligtit  of  heart  the  hind 
Eyed  amorously  the  milk-maid  as  she  passed, 
Not  heedless,  though  she  looked  another  way. 

No  sign  was  there  of  change  :  all  nature  moved 
In  wonted  harmony  :  men  as  they  met 
In  morning  salutation,  praised  the  day, 
And  talked  of  common  things  :  the  husbandman 
Prepared  the  soil,  and  silver  tongued  hope, 
Promised  another  harvest :  in  the  streets, 
Each  wishing  to  make  profit  of  his  neighbor, 
Merchan's  assembling,  spoke  of  trying  times, 
or  bankruptcies,  and  markets  glutted  full : 
Or  crowding  to  the  beach,  where,  to  their  ear, 
The  oath  of  foreign  accent,  and  the  noise 
Uncouth  of  trade's  rough  sons,  made  music  sweet, 
Elate  with  certain  gain,  beheld  the  bark, 
Rf  pected  long,  enriched  with  other  climes, 
lavo  t^  harbor  safely  steer,  or  saw, 
lartilM  with  many  a  weepmg  farewell  sad, 
AndUessing  uttered  rude,  and  sacred  pledge, 
The  rich  laden  carack,  bound  to  distant  shore  ; 
And  hopefully  talked  of  her  coming  back, 
With  richer  freight :  or  sitting  at  the  desk, 


BOOK  VU. 

In  calculation  deep  and  intricate, 

Of  loss  and  profil  balancing,  relieved, 

At  intervals,  the  irksome  task,  witlj  thought 

Of  fu'.ure  ease,  retired  in  villa  snug. 

With  subtle  look,  amid  his  parchments  sat 
The  lawyer,  weaving  his  sophistries  for  court 
To  meet'at  mid-day.     On  his  weary  couch 
Fat  luxury,  sick  of  the  night's  debauch, 
Lay  groanin?,  fretful  at  the  obtrusive  beam, 
That  through  his  lattice  peeped  derisively  : 
The  restless  miser  bad  begun  again 
To  count  his  heaps  :  before  her  toilet  stood 
The  fair,  and  as  with  guileful  skill  she  decked 
Her  loveliness,  thought  of  the  coming  ball, 
Kew  lovers,  or  the  sweeier  nuptial  night. 
And  evil  men  of  desperate  lawless  life, 
By  oath  of  deep  damnation  leagued  to  ill 
Remorselessly,  fled  from  the  face  of  day, 
Against  the  innocent  their  counsel  held. 
Plotting  unpardonable  deeds  of  blood, 
And  villanies  of  fearful  magnitude  : 
Despots  secured  behind  a  thousand  bolts, 
The  workmanship  of  fear,  forged  chains  for  man  ; 
Senates   were  meeting  ;  statesmen  loudly  talked 
Of  national  resources,  war  and  peace  ; 
And  sagely  balanced  empires  soon  to  end  : 
And  faction's  jaded  minions,  by  the  page 
Paid  for  abuse,  and  oft  repealed  lies. 
In  daily  prints,  the  thorough-fare  of  news, 
For  party  schemes  made  interest,  under  cloak 
Of  liberty,  and  right,  and  public  weal : 
In  holy  conclave,  bishops  spoke  of  tythes. 
And  of  the  awful  wickedness  of  men  : 
Intoxicate  with  sceptres,  diadems, 
And  universal  rule,  and  panting  hard 
For  fame,  heroes  were  leading  on  the  brave 
To  battle  :  men,  in  science  deeply  read, 
And  academic  IbeoiT  foretold 
L3 


166  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Improvements  vast  :  and  learned  sceptics  proved 
That  earlh  should  with  eternity  endure  ; 
Concluding  madly  that  there  was  no  God. 

No  sign  of  change  appeared  ;  to  every  man 
That  day  seemed  as  the  past.    From  noontide  path 
The  suii  looked  jloriously  on  earth,  and  all 
Her  scenes  of  giddy  folly  smiled  secure. 
When  suddenly  alas,  fair  Earth  !  the  sun 
Was  wrapt  in  darkness,  and  his  beams  returned 
Up  to  the  throne  of  God  ;  and  over  all 
The  earth  came  night,  moonless  and  starless  night. 
Nature  stood  still  :  the  seas  and  rivers  stood, 
And  all  the  winds  ;  and  every  living  thing. 
The  cataract,  that  Uke  a  giant  wroth, 
Rushed  down  impetuously,  as  seized,  at  once, 
By  sudden  frost  with  all  his  hnary  locks, 
Stood  still  :  and  beasts  of  every  kind  stood  still. 
A  deep  and  dreadful  silence  reigned  aloue  ! 
Hope  died  in  every  breast ",  and  on  all  men 
Came  fear  and  trembling:  none  to  bis  neighbor  spoke; 
Husband  thought  not  of  wife  ;  nor  of  her  child 
The  mother  ;  nor  friend  of  friend  ;  nor  foe  of  foe. 
In  horrible  suspense  all  mortals  stood  ; 
And  as  they  stood,  and  listened,  chariots  were  beard 
Rolling  in  heaven  :  revealed  m  flaming  fire. 
The  angel  of  God  appeared  in  stature  vast. 
Blazing  ;  and  lifting  up  his  hand  on  high, 
By  Him  that  lives  for  ever,  swore,  that  Time 
Should  be  no  more.— Throughout  creation  heard 
And  sighed:  all  rivers,  lakes,  and  seas,  and  woods  ; 
Desponding  ivasle,  and  cultivated  vale  ; 
Wild  cave,  and  ancient  hill,  and  every  rock 
Sighed  :  earlh,  arrested  in  her  wonted  path, 
As  ox  struck  by  the  lifted  axe,  when  nought 
Was  feared,  in  all  heren'rails  deeply  groaned. 
A  universal  crash  was  heard,  as  if 
The  ribs  of  nature  broke,  and  all  her  dark 
Foundations  failed  :  and  deadly  paleness  sat 


BOOK  VII.  Ifi7 

On  every  face  of  itiaD,  and  every  heart 

Grew  chill,  and  every  knee  hia  fellow  smote. 

None  spoke,  none  stirred,  none  wept ;  for  horror  held 

All  motionless,  and  fettered  every  tongue. 

Again  o'er  all  the  nations  silence  fell  : 

And,  in  the  heavens  robed  in  excessive  light. 

That  drove  the  thick  of  darkness  far  aside, 

And  walked  with  penetration  keen  thro'  all 

The  abodes  of  men,  another  angel  stood, 

And  blew  the  trump  of  God.— Awake,  ye  dead  ! 

Be  changed, ye  living  !  and  put  on  the  gsirb 

Of  immortality  !  awake  '.  arise  ! 

The  God  of  judgment  comes.  This  said  the  voice  : 

And  silence  from  eternity   that  slept 

Beyond  the  sphere  of  the  creating  word, 

And  all  the  noise  of  Time,  awakened,  heard. 

Heiven  heard,  and  earth,  and  farthest  hell  thro'  all 

Her  regions  of  despair  :  the  ear  of  Death 

Heard,  and  the  sleep  that  for  so  long  a  night 

Pressed  on  his  leaden  evelids,  fled  :  and  all 

The  dead  awoke,  and  ail  the  living  changed. 

Old  men,  that  on  tbeir  staff,  bending  had  leaned, 
Crazy  and  frail  ;  or  sat,  benumbed  with  age. 
In  weary  listlessness,  ripe  for  the  grave, 
Felt  through  their  sluggish  veins,  and  withered  limbs, 
"Sevr  vigor  flow  :  the  wrinkled  face  grew  smooth  ; 
Upon  the  head,  that  time  had  razored  bare. 
Rose  bushy  locks  ;  and  as  his  son  in  prime 
Of  strength  and  youth,  the  aged  father  stood. 
Changing  herself,  the  mother  saw  her  son 
Grownup,  and  suddenly  put  on  the  form 
Of  manhood  :  and  the  wretch,  that  begging  aat 
Limbless,  defomied,  at  comer  of  the  way. 
Unmindful  of  his  crutch,  in  joint  and  limb. 
Arose  complete  :  and  he  that  on  the  bed 
Of  mortal  sickness,  worn  with  sore  distress, 
Lay  breathing  forth  his  soul  to  death,  felt  now 
The  tide  of  life  and  vigor  rushing  back ; 


168  THE  COUnSE  OF  TIME. 

And  locking  op  beheld  hi5  weeping  wife. 

And  daughter  fond,  that  o'er  him,  bending  stooped 

To  close  his  eyes  :  the  frantic  madman  too, 

In  whose  confused  brain,  reason  had  lost 

Her  way,  long  driven  at  random  to  and  fro, 

Grew  sitjer,  and  his  manacles  fell  off. 

The  newly  sheeted  corpse  arose,  and  stared 

On  those  who  dressed  it  :  and  the  coffined  dead. 

That  men  were  bearing  to  the  tomb — awoke. 

And  mingled   with  their  friends  :  and  armies  which 

The  trump  surprised,  met  in  the  furious  shock 

Of  battle,  saw  the  bleeding  ranks,  new  fallen, 

Rise  up  at  once,  and  to  their  ghastly  cheeks 

Return  the  stream  of  life  in  healthy  flow. 

And  as  the  anatomist,  with  all  his  band 

Of  rude  disciples,  o'er  the  subject  hung, 

And  impolitely  hewed  his  way,  thro'  bones 

And  muscles  of  the  sacred  human  form. 

Exposing  barbarously  to  wanton  gaze, 

The  mysteries  of  nature — ^joint  embraced 

His  kindred  joint,  the  wounded  flesh  grew  np, 

And  suddenly  the  injured  man  awoke, 

Among  their  hands,  and  stood  arrayed  complete 

In  immortality — forgiving  scarce 

The  insult  offered  to  his  clay  in  death. 

That  was  the  hour,  long  wished  for  bv  the  good, 
Of  universal  Jubilee  to  all 

The  sons  of  bondage  ;  liom  the  oppressor's  hand 
The  scoufffeof  violence  fell  ;  and  from  his  back, 
Heal'dofits  stripes,  the  burden  of  the  slave. 

The  youth  of  ejeat  religious  soul — who  sat 
Retired  in  voluntary  loneliness, 
In  reverie  extravagant  now  wrapt. 
Or  poring  now  on  bonk  of  ancient  date. 
With  filial  awe  ;  and  dippmg  oft  his  pen 
To  write  immortal  things  ;  to  pleasure  deaf 
And  joys  of  common  men  ;  working  his  way 


BOOK  vn. 

With  mighty  ener^,  not  uninspired, 
Tbro'  all  the  mines  of  ihouzht ;  reckless  of  pain, 
And  weariness,  and  wasted  "health  ;  the  scoff 
Of  pride,  or  growl  of  Envy's  hellish  brood  ; 
While  Fancy,  voyaged  far  beyond  the  bounds 
Of  years  revealed,  heard  many  a  fu'ure  age. 
With     commendation  loud,  repeat  his  name — 
False  prophe'ess !  the  day  of  change  was  come- 
Behind  the  shadow  of  eternity, 
He  saw  his  visions  set  of  earthly  fame  j 
For  ever  set :  nor  sighed  while  thro'  his  veins 
In  lighter  current  ran  immortal  life  ; 
His  form  renewed  to  ucdecaying  hea'th  ; 
To  undecaying  health  his  soul,  eren  hile 
Not  tuned  amiss  to  God's  eternal  praise. 

All  men  in  field  and  city  ;  by  the  way, 
On  land  or  sea  ;  lolling  in  gorgeous  hall, 
Or  plying  at  the  oar  ;  crawling  in  rags 
Obscure,  or  dazzling  in  embroidered  gold  j 
Alone,  in  companies,  at  home,  abroad  ; 
In  wanton  merriment  surprised  and  taken; 
Or  kneeling  reverently  in  act  of  prayer ; 
Or  cursing  recklessly,  or  uttering  lies  ; 
Or  lapping  greedily  from  slander's  cup 
The  blood  of  reputation  ;  or  between 
Friendships  and  brotherhoods  devising  strife  ; 
Or  plotting  to  dffile  a  neighbor's  bed  ; 
In  duel  met  with  dasger  of  revenge  ; 
Or  cas:ing  on  the  widow's  heritage 
The  eye  of  cove'ousness  ;  or  with  full  hand 
On  mercy's  noiseless  errands  unobserved 
Administering  ;  or  meditating  fraud 
And  deeds  of  horrid  barbarous  intent  ; 
Tn  full  pursuit  of  unexperienced  hope, 
Fluttering  along  the  flowery  path  of  youth 
Or  steeped  in  disappointment's  bitterness — 
The  fevered  cup  that  guilt  must  ever  drink^ 
When  parched  and  fainting  on  the  road  of  lU: 


170  IHE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Beggar  and  king,  the  clown  and  haugbty  lord  ; 
The  venerable  sage,  and  empty  fop  ; 
The  ancient  matron,  and  the  rosy  bride  ; 
The  virgin  chaste,  and  shriveled  harlot  vile  ; 
The  savage  fierce,  and  man  of  science  mild  ; 
The  good  and  evil,  in  a  moment,  all 
Were  changed,  corruptible  to  incorrupt, 
And  mortal  to  immortal  ne'er  to  change. 

And  now  descending  from  the  bowers  of  heaven, 
Soft  airs  o'er  all  the  earth,  spreading  were  heard, 
And  Hallelujahs  sweet,  the  harmony 
Of  righteous  souls  that  came  to  represess 
Their  long  neglected  bodies  :  and  anon 
Upon  the  ear  fell  horribly  the  sound 
Of  cursing  and  the  yells  of  damned  despair, 
Uttered  by  felon  spirits  that  the  trump 
Had  summoned  from  the  burning  glooms  of  hell, 
To  put  their  bodies  on — reserved  for  wo. 

Now  starting  up  among  the  living  changed, 
Appeared  innumerous  the  risen  dead. 
Each  particle  of  dust  was  claimed  :  the  turf. 
For  ages  trod  beneath  the  careless  foot 
Of  men  rose  organized  in  human  form  ; 
The  monumental  stones  were  rolled  away  ; 
The  doors  of  death  were  opened  ;  and  in  the  dark 
And  loathsome  vault,  and  silent  charnel  bouse. 
Moving  were  heard  the  mouldered  bones  that  sought 
Their  proper  place.     Instinctive  every  soul 
Flew  to  its  clayey  part :  from  grass-grown  mould, 
The  nameless  spirit  took  its  ashes  up. 
Reanimate  :  and  merging  from  beneath 
The  flattered  marble,  undistinguished  rose 
The  great — nor  heeded  once  the  lavish  rhyme, 
And  costly  pomp  of  sculptured  garnish  vain. 
The  Memphian  mummy,  that  from  age  to  age 
Descending,  bought  and  sold  a  thousand  times, 
In  hall  of  curious  antiquary,  stowed, 


BOOK  VII.  171 

Wrapt  in  mysterious  weeds,  the  wondrous  theme 

Of  many  an  erring  tale,  shook  off  its  rags  ; 

And  the  brown  son  of  Es^j)(  stood  beside 

The  Europe^in,  his  last  purchaser. 

In  vale  remote  the  hermit  rose,  surprised 

At  crowds  that  rose  around  him,  where  he  thought 

His  slumbers  tiad  been  sinele  :  and  the  bard, 

Who  fondly  covenanted  with  his  friend 

To  lay  his  bones  beneath  the  sighing  tiough 

Of  some  old  lonely  tree,  rising  was  pressed 

By  muUiUides,  that  claimed  their  proper  dust 

From  the  same  spot  :  and  he,  that  richly  hearsed, 

With  gloomy  garniture  of  purchased  wo, 

Embalmed  in  princely  sepulchre  was  laid, 

Apart  from  vulgar  men,  built  nicely  round 

And  round  by  the  proud  heir  who  blushed  to  think 

His  father's  lordly  clay  should  ever  mix 

With  peasant  dust — saw  by  his  side  awake 

The  clown  that  long  had  slumbered  in  his  arms. 

The  family  tomb,  to  whose  devouring  mouth 
Descended  stre  and  son,  age  after  age. 
In  long  unbrofeen  hereditary  line. 
Poured  forth  at  once  the  ancient  father  rude, 
And  all  his  offspring  of  a  thousand  years. 
Refreshed  from  sweet  repose,  awnbe  the  man 
Of  charitable  life  ;  awoke  and  sung  : 
And  from  his  prison  house,  slowly,  and  sad. 
As  if  uusatisfitd  with  holding  near 
Communion  with  the  ear'h,  the  miser  drew 
His  carcass  forth,  and  gnashed  his  teeth,  and  howled, 
Unsolaced  by  his  gold  and  siUer  tken. 
From  simple  stone  in  lonely  wilderness, 
That  hoary  lay,  o'er-leltered  by  the  hand 
Of  oft  frequenting  pilgrim,  who  had  taught 
The  willow  tree  to  weep  at  mom  and  even 
Over  the  sacred  spot — the  martyr  saint 
To  song  of  seraph  harp  tiiumphant  rose. 
Well  pleased  that  he  had  suffered  to  the  death. 


172  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

"The  cloud  capped  towers,  the  gorgeous  palsces," 

As  sung  the  bard  by  Nature's  hand    anointed, 

In  whose  capacious'  giant  numbers  rolled 

The  passions  of  oM  Time,  fell  lumbering  down. 

A\l  cities  fell,  and  every  work  of  man. 

And  gave  their  portion  forth  of  human  dust, 

Touched  by  the  mortal  finger  of  decay. 

Tree,  herb,  and  flower,  and  every  fov\  1  of  heaven, 

And  fish,  and  animal,  the  wild  and  tame, 

Forthwith  dissolving  crumbled  inlo  dust. 

Alas,  ye  sons  of  strength  !  ye  ancient  oaks  ! 
ye  holy  pines  !  ye  elms  !  and  cedars  tall  ! 
Like  towers  of  God,  far  seen  on  Carmel  monnt, 
Or  Lebanon,  that  waved  your  boughs  on  high. 
And  laughed  at  all  the  winds — your  hour  waa  come. 
Te  laurels,  ever  green  '.  and  bays,  that  wont 
To  wreath  the  patriot  and  the  poets  brow  ; 
Te  myrtle  towers  !  and  groves  of  sacred  sliade  ! 
AVhere  Music  ever  sung,  and  Zephyr  fanned 
His  airy  wing,  wet  with  the  dews  of  life. 
And  Spring  for  ever  smiled,  the  fragrant  haunt 
Of  Love,  and  Health,  and  ever  dancing  M:rth — 
Alas  ;  how  suddenly  your  verdure  died. 
And  ceased  yocr  minstrelsy,  to  sing  no  more  '. 
Ye  flowers  of  beauty  !  penciled  by  the  hand 
Of  God  who  annually  renewed  your  birih, 
To  gem  the  virgin  robes  of  nature  chaste, 
Ye  smiling  featured  daughters  of  the  Sun  ! 
Fairer  than  queenly  bride,  by  Jordan's  stream 
Leading  your  eentle  lives,  retired,  unseen  j 
Or  on  the  sainted  clitTs  on Zion  hi!!. 
Wandering,  and  holdinj  with  the  beavenly  dews, 
In  holy  revelr)-,  your  nightly  loves. 
Watched  by  the  stars,  and  offering  every  mom 
Your  incense  grateful  both  to  God  and  man, 
Ye  lovely  gentle  things  !  alas,  no  spring 
Shall  ever  wake  you  now!  ye  withered  all. 
All  in  a  moment  drooped,  and  on  your  roots 


The  grasp  of  everlastin?  winter  seized. 
Children  of  song  !  ye  birds  that  dwelt  in  air, 
And  stole  your  no'es  from  anrels'  lyres,  and  first 
In  levee  of  the  morn,  with  eulogy 
Ascending,  hailed  the  advent  of  the  dawn  : 
Or,  roRS'pd  on  the  pensive  evening  bough, 
In  melancholy  numbers  sun»  the  day 
To  rest,  your'little  wings,  failing  dissolvad 
In  middle  air,  and  on  your  harmony 
Perpetual  silence  fell.     Nor  did  his  wing, 
That  sailed  in  track  of  gods  sublime,  and  fanned 
The  sun,  avail  the  eagle  then  ;  quick  smitten, 
His  plumage  withered  in  meridian  height, 
And  in  the  valley  sunk,  the  lordly  bird, 
A  clod  of  clay.     Before  the  ploughman,  fell 
His  steers,  and  in  midway  the  furrow  Itft : 
The  shepherd  saw  his  flocks  around  him,  turn 
To  dust  :  beneath  his  rider  fell  the  steed 
To  ruins  :  and  the  lion  in  his  den 
Grew  cold  and  stiff,  or  in  the  furious  chase, 
With  timid  fawn,  that  scarcely  missed  his  paws. 
On  earth  no  living  thing  was  seen  but  men, 
New  changed,  or  rising  from  the  opening  tomb. 

Athens,  and  Rome,  and  Babylon,  and  Tyre, 
And  she  that  sat  on  Thames,  queen  of  the  seas  ! 
Cities  once  famed  on  earth,  convulsed  through  all 
Their  mighty  ruins,  threw  their  millions  forth. 
Palmyra's  dead,  where  desolation  sat. 
From  age  to  age,  well  pleased  in  solitude. 
And  silence,  save  when  traveller's  foot,  or  owl 
Of  night,  or  fragment  mouldering  down  to  dust, 
Broke  faintly  on  his  desert  ear,  awoke. 
And  Salem,  holy  city,  where  the  prince 
Of  life,  by  death,  a  second  life  secured 
To  man,  and  with  him  from  the  grave,  redeemed, 
A  chosen  number  brought,  to  retinue 
His  great  ascent  on  high,  and  give  sure  pledge 
That  death  was  foiled,— her  generations  now 


174  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Gave  up,  of  kings,  and  priests,  and  Pharisees  : 
Nor  even  the  Sadducee,  who  fondly  said 
No  morn  cf  Resurrection  e'er  sliould  come, 
Could  sit  the  summons ;  to  his  ear  did  reach 
The  trumpet's  voice  ;  and  ill  prepared  for  what 
He  oft  had  proved  should  never  be,  he  rose 
Reluctantly,  and  on  his  face  began 
To  burn  eternal  shame.     The  ci'ies  too, 
Of  old  ensepulchred  beneath  the  flood, 
Or  deeply  slumbering  under  mountains  huge. 
That  earthquake — servant  of  the  wrath  of  God- 
Had  on  their  wicked  population  thrown. 
And  marts  of  busy  trade,  lon^  ploughed  and  sown, 
By  history  unrecorded,  or  the  song 
Of  bard,  yet  not  forgotten  their  wickedness 
In  heaven — poured  forth  their  ancient  multitudes. 
That  vainly  wished  their  sleep  had  never  broke. 
From  battle  fields,  where  men  by  millions  met 
To  murder  each  his  fellow,  and  make  sport 
To  kings  and  heroes — things  long  since  forgot- 
Innumerous  armies  rose,  unbannered  all, 
Unpanopled,  unpraised  ;  nor  found  a  prince. 
Or  general  then,  to  answer  for  their  crimes. 
The  hero's  slaves,  and  all  the  scarlet  troops 
Of  antichrist,  and  all  that  fought  for  rule — 
Many  high-sounding  names,  familiar  once 
Cn  earth,  and  praised  exceedingly  ;  but  now 
Familar  most  iu  hell— their  dungeon  fit. 
Where  they  may  war  eternal!)'  with  God's 
Almighty  thunderbolts,  and  win  them  pangs 
Of  keener  wo — saw,  as  they  sprung  to  life, 
The  widow,  and  the  orphan  ready  stand. 
And  helpless  virgin,  ravished  in  their  sport, 
To  plead  against  them  at  the  coming  l)oom. 
The  Roman  legions,  boasting  once  how  loud 
Of  liberty,  and  fightiiig  bravely  o'er 
The  torrid  and  the  frigid  zone  ;  the  sands 
Of  burning  Egypt,  and  the  frozen  hills 
Of  suowy  Albion,  to  make  mankind 


That  morning  gathered  up  their  dust  which  lay 
Wide  scattered  over  half  the  jlobe  :  nor  saw 
Their  eagled  banners  then.     Sennacherib's  hosts, 
Embattled  once  against  the  sons  of  God, 
With  insult  bold,  quick  as  the  noise  of  Diirth, 
And  revelry,  sunk  in  their  drunken  camp, 
When  death's  dark  angel,  at  'he  dead  of  night. 
Their  vitals  touched,  and  made  each  pulse  stand  still — 
Awoke  in  sorrow:  and  the  multitudes 
Of  Gog,  and  all  the  fated  crew  that  warred 
Against  the  chosen  saints,  in  the  last  days, 
At  Armageddon,  when  the  Lord  came  down. 
Mustering  his  hosts  on  Israel's  holy  hills, 
And  from  the  treasures  of  his  snow  and  hail 
Bained  terror,  and  confusion  rained,  and  death) 
And  gave  to  all  the  beasts  and  fowls  of  heavea 
Of  captain's  flesh,  and  blood  of  men  of  war, 
A  feast  of  many  days — revived,  and  doomed 
To  second  death, — stood  in  Hamocah's  vale. 

Nor  yet  did  all  that  fell  in  battle  rise 
That  day  to  wailing  :  here  and  there  were  seen, 
The  patriot  bands,  that  from  his  guilty  throne 
The  despot  tore,  unshackled  nations  made 
The  prince  respect  the  people's  laws,  drove  back 
The  wave  of  proud  invasion,  and  rebuked 
The  frantic  fury  of  the  multitude 
Rebelled,  and  fought  and  fell  for  liberty 
Right  understood,— true  heroes  in  the  speech 
Of  heaven,  where  words  express  the  thoughts  of  him 
Who  speaks— not  undistinguished  these,  tho'  few, 
That  morn  arose,  with  joy  and  melody. 

All  woke — the  north  and  south  gave  up  their  dead: 
The  caravau.  that  in  niid-joumey  sunk. 
With  all  its  merchandise,  erpected  long. 
And  long  forgot,  ingulphed  beneath  the  tide 


176  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Ofdeath,  that  the  wild  spirit  of  the  winds, 
Swept  in  his  wrath  along  the  wilderness, 
In  the  wide  desert  woke,  and  saw  all  calm 
Around,  and  populous  with  risen  men  : 
Nor  of  his  relics  thought  the  pilerim  then, 
Nor  merchant  of  his  silks  and  spiceries. 

And  he — far  vovagin;  from  home  and  friends 
Too  curious,  with  a  mortal  eye  to  peep 
Into  the  secrets  of  the  Pole,  forbid 
By  nature,  whom  fierce  winter  seized,  and  froze 
To  death,  and  wrapped  in  winding  sheet  of  ice, 
And  sung  the  requiem  of  his  shivering  ghost. 
With  the  loud  organ  of  his  mighty  winds. 
And  on  his  memory  threw  the  snow  of  ages — 
Felt  the  long  absent  warmth  of  life  return, 
And  shook  the  frozen  mountain  from  his  bed. 

All  rose  of  every  age,  of  every  clime  : 
Adam  and  Eve,  the  great  progenitors 
Of  all  mankind,  fair  as  they  seemed  that  morn. 
When  firs'  they  met  in  paradise,  unfalleo, 
Cncursed — from  ancient  slumber  broke,  where  once 
Euphrates  rolled  his  stream  ;  and  by  them  stood, 
In  stature  equal,  and  in  soul  as  large, 
Their  last  posterity — tho'  poet's  sung, 
And  sages  proved  them  far  degenerate. 

Blest  sight !  not  unobserved  by  angels,  or 
Unpraised — that  day'mong  men  of  every  tribe 
And  hue,  from  those  who  drank  of  Teng'lio's  stream, 
To  those  who  nightly  saw  the  hermit  cross, 
In  utmost  south  retired, — rising  were  seen. 
The  fair  and  ruddy  sons  of  Albion's  land. 
How  glad  !  not  those  who  travelled  far,  and  sailei', 
To  purchase  human  flesh  ;  or  wreath  the  yoke 
Of  vassalage  on  savage  liberty  ; 
Or  suck  large  fortune  from  the  sweat  of  slaves  ; 
Or  with  refined  knavery  to  cheat. 


BOOK  VII.  m 

Politely  villanous,  untutored  men 
Out  of  their  property  ;  or  gather  shells, 
Intaglios  mde,  old  pottery,  and  store 
Of  mutilated  gods  of  stone,  and  scraps 
Of  barbarous  epitaphs  defaced  to  be 
Among  the  learned  the  theme  of  warm  debate, 
And  infinite  conjecture,  sagely  wrong  '. 
But  those,  denied  to  self,  to  earthly  fame 
Denied,  and  earthly  wealth  who  kindred  left, 
And  home,  and  ease,  and  all  the  cultured  joys, 
Conveniences,  and  delicate  delights 
Of  ripe  society  ;  in  the  great  cause 
Of  man's  salvation  greatly  valorous, 
The  warriors  of  Messiah,  messengers 
Of  peace,  and  light,  and  lift-,  whose  eye  UDScaled 
Saw  up  the  path  of  immortality, 
Far  into  bliss — saw  men,  immortal  men, 
Wide  wandering  from  the  way  ;  eclipsed  in  night, 
Dark,  moonless,  moral  night ;  living  like  beasts  ; 
Like  beasts  descending  to  the  grave  untaught 
Of  life  to  come,  unsanctified,  unsaved  : 
Who  strong,  tho'  seeming  weak  ;  who  warlike,  tho' 
Dnarmed  with  bow  and  sword  ;  appearing  mad, 
Tho'  sounder  than  the  schools  alone  e'er  made 
The  doctor's  head  ;  devote  to  God  and  truth, 
And  sworn  to  man's  eternal  weal — beyond 
Repentance  sworn,  or  thought  of  tummg  back  ; 
And  casting  far  behind  all  earthly  care, 
All  countryships,  all  national  regards, 
And  enmities  ;  all  narrow  bournes  of  state 
And  selfish  policy  ;  beneath  their  feet 
Treading  all  fear  of  opposition  down ; 
All  fear  of  danger  ;  of  reproach  all  fear  i 
And  evil  tongues  ; — went  forth,  from  Britain  went, 
A  noiseless  band  of  heavenly  soldiery, 
From  out  the  armory  of  God  equipped 
Invincible — to  conquer  sin  ;  to  blow 
The  trump  of  freedom  in  the  despot's  ear, 
To  tell  '.he  bruted  slave  his  manhood  high, 
M 


178  THE- COURSE  OF  TIME. 

His  birthright  liberty,  and  in  his  hand 
To  put  the  writ  of  manumission,  signed 
By  God's  own  signature  ;  to  drive  away 
From  earth  the  dark  infernal  legionry 
Of  superstition,  ignorance,  and  hell  : 
Hieh  on  the  pagan  hills,  where  Satan  sat 
Encamped,  and  o'er  the  subject  kinzdoms  threw 
Perpetual  night,  to  plant  Iniraanuel's  cross, 
The  ensign  of  the  Gospel,  blazirg  round 
Immortal  truth  ;  and  in  the  wilderness 
Of  human  waste  to  sow  eternal  life  ; 
And  from  the  rock,  where  sin  with  horrid  yell 
Devoured  its  victims  unredeemed,  to  raise 
The  melodv  of  grateful  hearts  to  Heaven. 
To  falsehood,  truth  ;  to  pride,  humility  ; 
To  insult,  meekness  ;  pardon,  to  revenge  ; 
To  stubborn  prejudice,  unwearied  zeal  ; 
To  censure,  unaccusing  minds  ;  to  stripes, 
liOng  suffering  ;  to  want  of  things,  hope ; 
To  death,  assured  faith  of  life  to  come, 
Opposin; — these,  great  worthies,  rijinz.  shone 
Thro'  all  the  tribes,  and  nations  of  mackind, 
Like  Hesper,  glorious  once  among  the  stars. 
Of  twilight,  and  around  them  flecking  stood 
Arrayed  in  white,  the  people  they  had  saved. 

Great  Ocean  too,  that  morning,  thou,  the  call 
Of  restitution  heardst,  and  reverently 
To  the  last  trumpet's  voice  in  silence  listened  ! 
Great  Ocean  !  strongest  of  crea 'ion's  sons  ! 
Unconquerable,  unreposed,  untired  ; 
Ttat  rolled  the  wild,  profound,  eternal  bass, 
In  Nature's  anthem,  and  made  music,  such 
As  pleased  the  ear  of  God.     Original, 
Unmarred,  unfaded  work  of  Deity  ; 
And  unburlesqued  by  mortal's  puny  skill. 
From  age  to  .ige  enduring  and  unchanged, 
Majestical,  inimitable,  vast, 
Loud  uttering  satire  day  aad  night  on  each 


Succeeding  race,  and  little  pompous  work 

Of  mm.    Unfallen,  religious,  holy  sea  ! 

Thou  bowedst  thy  glorious  head  to  none,  fearedst 

none, 
Heardst  none,  to  none  didst  honor,  but  to  God 
Thy  maker — only  worthy  to  receive 
Thy  ereal  obeisance.    Undiscovered  sea  ! 
Into  thy  dark,  unknown,  mysterious  caves, 
And  secret  haunts,  unfaihomably  deep 
Beneath  all  visible  retired,  none  went, 
And  cameaeain,  to  tell  the  wonders  there. 
Tremendous  sea  !  what  time  thou  lifted  up 
Thy  waves  on  high,  and  with  thy  winds  and  storms 
Strange  pastime  took,  and  shook  thy  mighty  sides 
Indignantly — the  pride  of  navies  fell  ; 
Beyond  the  arm  of  help,  unheard,  unseen, 
Sunk  friend  and  foe,  with  all  their  wealth  and  war  ; 
And  on  thy  shores,  men  of  a  thousand  tribes. 
Polite  and  barbarous,  trembling  stood,  aniazed. 
Confounded,  terrified,  and  thought  vast  thoughts 
Of  ruin,  boundlessness,  omnipotence, 
Icfinitude,  eternity;  and  tlioujht 
And  wondered  sull,  and  grasped,  and  grasped,  and 

grasped 
Again — beyond  her  reach  exerting  all 
The  soul  to  take  thy  great  idea  in. 
To  comprehend  incomprehensible  ; 
And  wondered  more,  and  felt  their  littleness. 
Self-purifyine,  unpolluted  sea  ! 
Lover  unchangeable  !  thy  faithful  breast 
For  ever  heaving  to  the  lovely  moon, 
That  like  a  shy  and  holy  virgin,  robed 
In  saicilly  white,  walked  nightly  in  the  heavens, 
And  to  thy  everlasting  serenade 
Gave  gracious  audience  ;  nor  was  wooed  in  vain. 
That  morning,  thou,  that  slumbered  not  before. 
Nor  slept,  great  Ocean  !  laid  thy  waves  to  rest, 
And  hushed  thy  mighty  minstrelsy.     No  breath 
Thv  deep  composure  stirred,  no  fin,  no  oar  ; 
M2 


130  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Like  beauty  newly  dead,  so  calm,  so  still, 

So  lovely,  tliou,  beneath  the  li§ht  that  (ell 

From  angel-chariots  sentineled  on  hii;h. 

Reposed,  and  listened,  and  saw  thy  living  change. 

Thy  dead  arise.    Charybdis  listened,  and  Scylla  ; 

And  savage  Euxine  on  the  Thracian  beach 

Lay  motionless  :  and  every  battle  ship 

Stood  still  ;  and  every  ship  of  merchandise. 

And  all  that  sailed,  of  every  name,  stood  still. 

Even  as  the  ship  of  war,  full  fledged  and  swift 

Like  some  fierce  bird  of  prey,  bore  on  her  foe, 

Opposing  wilh  as  fell  intent,  the  wind 

Fell  withered  from  her  wings,  that  idly  hung  ; 

The  stormy  bullet,  by  the  cannon  thrown 

Uncivilly  against  the  heavenly  face 

Of  men,  half  sped,  sunk  harmlessly,  and  all 

Her  loud,  uncircuaicised,  tempestuous  crew, 

How  ill  prepared  to  meet  their  God  !  were  changed 

Unchangeable— the  pilot  at  the  helm 

Was  changed,and  the  rough  captain,  while  he  mouthed 

The  hugeenormous  oath.    The  fisherman, 

That  in  his  boat  expectant  watched  his  Imes, 

Or  mended  on  the  shore  his  net,  and  sung, 

Happy  in  thoughtlessness,  some  careless  air, 

Heard  Time  depart,  and  felt  the  sudden  change. 

In  solitary  deep,  far  out  from  land. 

Or  steering  from  the  port  with  n)any  a  cheer. 

Or  while  returning  from  long  voyage,  fraught 

With  lusty  wealth,  rejoicing  to  have  escaped 

The  dangerous  main,  and  plagues  of  foreign  climes 

The  merchant  quaffed  his  native  air  refreshed, 

And  saw  his  native  hills  in  the  sun's  light 

Serenely  rise,  and  thought  of  meetings  glad, 

And  many  days  of  ease  and  honor  spent 

Among  his  friends — unwarned  man  !  even  then 

The  knell  of  Time  broke  on  his  reverie. 

And  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  his  hopes. 

All  earthly,  perished  all.    As  sudden  rose. 

From  out  their  watery  beds,  the  Ocean's  dead. 


Renewed,  and  on  the  onstfrriDghillows  stood, 
From  pole  to  pole,  thick  covering  all  the  sea  ; 
Of  every  nation  blent,  and  every  age. 

Wherever  slept  one  grain  cf  hnman  dust. 
Essential  organ  of  a  human  soul, 
Wherever  tossed — obedient  to  the  call 
Of  God's  omnipotence,  it  hurried  on 
To  meet  its  fellow  particles,  revived, 
Rebuilt,  in  union  indestructible. 
No  atom  of  his  spoils  remained  to  Death  ; 
From  his  strong  arm  by  stronger  arm  released. 
Immortal  now  in  scul  and  body  both, 
Beyond  his  reach  stood  all  the  sons  of  men. 
And  saw  behind  his  valley  lie  unfeared. 

O  Death  '.  with  what  an  eye  of  desperate  lust. 
From  out  thy  emptied  vaults,  thou  then  didst  look 
After  the  risen  multitudes  of  all 
Mankind  !  Ah,  thou  hadst  been  the  terror  long. 
And  murderer  of  all  of  woman  born. 
None  could  escape  thee  :  in  thy  dungeon  house, 
Where  darkness  dwelt,  and  putrid  loathsomeness^ 
And  fearful  silence,  villanously  still. 
And  all  of  horrible  and  deadly  name, — 
Thou  salt'sl  from  age  to  age  insatiate, 
And  drank  the  blood  of  men,  and  gorged  their  flesh, 
And  with  thy  iron  teeth  didst  grind  their  bones 
To  powder — treading  out  beneath  thy  feet 
Their  very  tames  and  memories  :  the  blood 
Of  nations  could  not  slake  thy  parched  throat. 
No  bribe  could  buy  thy  favor  for  au  hour, 
Or  mitigate  thy  ever  cruel  rage 
For  human  prey.    Gold,  beauty,  virtne,  yonth ; 
Even  helpless  swaddled  innocency  failed 
To  soften  thy  heart  of  stone  :  the'  infant's  blood 
Pleased  well  thy  taste— and  while  the  mother  wept, 
Bereaved  by  thee,  lonely  and  waste  in  wo, 
Thy  ever  grindine  jaws  devoured  her  too. 
'MS 


182  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Each  Bon  of  Adam's  family  beheld, 
Where'er  he  turned,  whatever  path  of  life 
He  irode,  thy  goblin  form  before  him  stand. 
Like  trusty  old  assassin,  in  his  aim 
Steady  and  sure  as  eye  of  destiny, 
With  scythe,  and  dart,  and  strength  invinciblei 
Equipped,  and  ever  menacing  his  life. 
He  turned  aside,  he  drowned  himself  in  sleep, 
111  wine,  in  pleasure  ;  travelled,  voyaged,  sought 
Receipts  for  health  from  all  he  met  ;  betook 
To  business  ;  speculate  ;  retired  ;  returned 
Again  to  active  life  ;  again  retired  ; 
Returned  ;  retired  again  ;  prepared  to  die  ; 
Talked  of  thy  nothingness  ;  conversed  of  life 
To  come  ;  laughed  at"  his  fears ;  filled  up  the  cnp  ; 
Drank  deep  ;  refrained  ;  filled  up  ;  refrained  again  ; 
Planned;  built  him  round  with  splendor,  won  jpplause; 
Made  large  alliances  with  men  and  things  ; 
liead  deep  in  science  and  philosophy. 
To  fortify  his  soul ;  heard  lectures  prove 
The  present  ill,  and  future  good  ;  observed 
His  pulse  beat  regular  ;  extended  hope  ; 
Thought,  dissipated  thought,  and  thought  again ; 
Indulged,  abstained,  and  tried  a  thousand  schemes. 
To  ward  thy  blow  or  hide  thee  from  his  eye ; 
But  still  thy  gloomy  terrors,  dipped  in  sin, 
Before  him  frowned,  and  withered  a'l  his  joy. 
Still,  feared  and  hated  thing,  thy  ghostly  shape 
Stood  in  his  avenues  of  fairest  hope  ; 
Unmannerly,  and  uninvited,  crept 
Into  his  haunts  of  most  select  delight : 
Still  on  his  halls  of  mirth,  and  banqueting, 
And  revelry,  thy  shadowy  hand  was  seen 
Writingthynarne  of  Death.    Vile  worm  that  gnawed 
The  root  of  all  bis  happiness  terrene  ;  the  gall 
Of  all  his  sweet  ;  the  thorn  of  every  rose 
Of  earthly  bloom  ;  cloud  of  his  noon-day  sky  ; 
Frost  of  his  spring  ;  sigh  of  his  loudest  laugh  ; 
Dark  spot  on  every  form  of  loveliness, 


BOOK  \1I.  IS 

Rank  smell  amidst  his  rarest  spiceries  ; 

Harsh  dissonance  of  all  his  harmony : 

Reserve  of  every  promise,  and  the  if 

Of  all  to-morrows — now  beyond  thy  vale 

Stood  all  the  ransomed  multitude  of  men  ; 

Immortal  all  ;  and  in  their  visions  saw 

Thy  visaee  grin  no  more.    Great  payment  day 

Of  all  thou  ever  conquered,  none  was  left 

In  thy  unpeopled  realms,  so  populous  once. 

He,  at  whose  girdle  hangs  the  keys  of  death 

And  life — not  bought  but  with  the  bloc.d  of  Him 

Who  wears,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  that  mom 

Dispelled  the  cloud  that  sat  so  long,  so  thick, 

So  heavy  o'er  thy  vale,  opened  all  thy  doors, 

Unopeoed  before,  and  set  thy  prisoners  free. 

Vain  was  resistance,  and  to  follow  vain. 

In  thy  unveiled  caves,  and  solitudes 

Of  dark  and  dismal  emptiness,  thou  satt'st 

Rolling  thy  hollow  eyes  :  disab'ed  thing  ! 

Helpless,  despised,  unpilied,  and  unfeared, 

Like  some  fallen  tyrant,  chained  in  sight  of  all 

The  people  :  from  thee  dropped  thy  pointless  dart  : 

Thy  terrors  withered  all  ;  thy  ministers, 

Annihilated,  fell  before  thy  face  ; 

And  on  thy  maw  eternal  hunger  seized. 

Nor  yet,  sad  monster  !  wast  thou  left  alone. 
In  thy  dark  dens  snme  phantoms  still  remained, 
Ambition,  Vanity,  and  earthly  Fame  ; 
Swollen  Os'entation,  meagre  Avarice, 
Mad  Superstition,  smooth  Hypocrisy, 
And  Bigotry  intolerant,  and  Fraud, 
And  wilful  Ignorance,  and  sullen  Pride ; 
Hot  Controversy,  and  the  subtile  ghost 
Of  vain  Philosophy,  and  worldly  Hope, 
And  sweet  lipped'hollow-hearted  Flattery- 
All  these,  great  personages  once  on  earth. 
And  not  unfcllowed,  nor  unpralsed,  were  left, 
Thy  ever  unredeemed,  and  with  thee  driven 


184  THE  CX)URSE  OF  TIME. 

To  Erebus,  thro'  whose  nncheered  wast^i, 
Thou  mayest  chase  them  with  thy  brokeo  gcylho 
Fetching  vain  strokes  to  all  eternity, 
Unsatisfied,  as  men  who,  in  the  days 
Of  Time,  their  unsabstaotial  forms  porsued. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  VIIL 

Description  of  the  world  assembled  for  final  jadgment ; 
all  former  distinctious  equalized  ;  all  waiting  in 
expectation,  vice  and  virtue,  good  and  bad,  redeem, 
ed,  and  unredeemed,  were  now  the  only  distinctions 
among  men. 

An  holy  radiance  shone  on  all  countenances  and  re- 
vealed the  inward  state  and  feeling,  the  "index  of 
the  soul."  On  the  wicked  was  depicted  unuttera- 
ble despair  ;  and  on  the  righteous  "in  measure  equal 
to  the  soul's  advance  in  virtue,"  it  became  the  "lus- 
tre of  the  face." 

Various  classes  of  the  assembly  are  parficolarised  ;  the 
man  of  ear.hly  fame,  the  mighty  reasoner,  the  theo- 
rist, the  recluse,  the  bigot  theologion,  the  indolent, 
the  sceptic,  the  follower  of  fashions,  the  dutious 
wife,  the  lunatic,  the  dishonest  judge,  the  seducer, 
the  duellist  and  suicide,the  ypocrite,  the  slanderer, 
the  false  priest,  the  envious  man, 

The  word  of  God  was  not  properly  believed  by  any 
of  ihe  « icked  ;  the  necessary  fruit  of  faith  beine 
"truth,  temperance,  meekness,  holiness  and  Jove."" 


(toxwnt  of  ^ittie* 

BOOK  VIII. 


n. 


jEANIMATED  now,  and  dressed  in  robes 
Of  everlasting  wear,  in  tlie  last  pause 
Of  expeclatioD,  stood  the  human  race  ; 
Buoyant  in  air,  or  covering  shore  and  sea, 
From  east  to  west,  thick  as  the  eared  grain. 
In  golded  auturan  waved,  from  field  to  field, 
Profuse,  by  Nilus'  fertile  wave,  while  yet 
Earth  was,  and  men  were  in  her  vadleys  seen. 

Still  all  was  calm  in  heaven  :  nor  yet  appeared 
The  Judge :  nor  aught  appeared,  save  here  and  there. 
On  wing  of  golden  plumage  borne  at  will, 
A  curious  angel,  thai  from  out  the  skies. 
Now  glanced  a  look  on  man,  and  then  retired. 
As  calm  was  all  on  earth  :  the  ministers 
Of  God's  unsparing  vengeance  waited  still 
Unhid  :  no  sun,  no  moon,  no  star  gave  light : 
A  blest  and  holy  radiance,  travelled  far 
From  day  original,  fell  on  the  face 
Of  men,  and  every  countenance  revealed  ; 
Unpleasant  to  the  bad,  whose  visages 
Had  lo^t  all  euisa  of  seeming  happiness. 
With  which  on  earth  such  pains  they  took  to  hide 


J88  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Their  misery  in.    On  their  grim  features,  now 
The  plain  unvisored  index  of  the  soul, 
The  true  untampered  witness  of  the  heart, 
No  smile  of  hope,  no  look  of  vanity 
Beseechin?  for  applause,  was  seen  ;  no  scowl 
Of  self  importaDt,  all-despising  pride. 
That  once  upon  the  poor  and  needy  fell, 
Like  winter  on  the  unprotected  flower, 
Withering  their  very  btin?  to  decay. 
No  jesting  mirth,  no  wanton  leer  was  seen  ; 
No  sullen  lower  of  braggart  fortitude 
Defying  pain  ;  nor  anger,  nor  revenge  : 
But  fear  instead,  and  terror  and  remorse  ; 
And  chief  one  passion  to  its  answering  shaped 
Ttie  features  of  the  damned,  and  in  itself 
Summed  all  the  rest — unutterable  despair- 

What  on  the  righteous  shone  of  foreign  light 
Was  all  redundant  day,  tbey  needed  not. 
For,  as  by  nature,  Sin  is  dark,  and  loves 
The  dark,  still  hidine  from  itself  in  gloom  ; 
And  in  the  darkest  hell  is  stili  itself 
The  darkest  hell,  and  the  severest  wo. 
Where  all  is  wo  :  so  Virtue,  ever  fair  ! 
Dpth  by  a  sympathy  as  strong  as  binds 
Two  equal  hearts,  well  pleased  in  wedded  loTe, 
For  ever  seek  the  light,  for  ever  seek 
All  fair  and  lovely  things,  all  beauteous  form8, 
All  images  of  excellence  and  truth  ; 
And  fiom  her  own  essential  being,  pure 
As  flows  the  fount  of  life  that  spirits  drink, 
Doth  to  herself  give  light,  nor  from  her  beams, 
As  native  to  her  as  her  own  existence, 
Can  be  divorced,  nor  of  her  glory  shorn, —  - 
Which  now  from  every  feattire  of  the  just, 
Divinely  rayed  ;  yet   not  from  all  alike  ; 
In  measure  equal  to  the  soul's  advance 
In  virtue,  was  the  lustre  of  the  face. 


BOOKVIl.  18!) 

It  was  a  stranee  assembly  :  none  of  all 
That  congregaiion  vast  could  recollect 
Aught  like  it  in  the  history  of  man. 
No  badge  of  outward  s'ate  was  seen  ;  no  mark 
Of  age,  or  rank,  or  national  attire  ; 
Or  robe  professional,  or  air  of  trade. 
Untitled  stood  the  man  that  once  was  called 
My  lord,  unserved,  unfollowcd  ;  and  the  mau 
Of  tithes,  right  reverend  in  the  dialect 
Of  Time  addressed,  ungowued,  unbeneficed, 
Uncorpulent  ;  nor  now  from  him,  v/ho  bore, 
With  ceremonious  gravity  of  step, 
And  face  of  borrowed  holiness  o'erlaid, 
The  ponderous  book  before  the  awful  priest, 
And  opened,  and  shut  the  pulpit's  sacred  gated 
In  style  of  wonderful  observancy, 
And'reverence  excessive,  in  the  beams 
Of  sacerdotal  splendor  lost,  or  if 
Observed,  comparison  ridiculous  scarce 
Could  save  the  little,  pompous,  humble  man 
From  laughter  of  the  people— not  from  him 
Could  be  distinguished  then  the  priest  untithed. 
None  levees  held,  those  marts  where  princely  smiles 
Were  sold  for  flattery,  and  obeisance  mean, 
Unfit  from  man  to  man  ;  none  came,  or  v-ent  ; 
None  wished  to  draw  attention,  none  was  poor, 
None  rich  ;  none  young,  n'^ne  old,  deformed  none  ; 
None  sought  for  place,  or  fivor  ;  ijone  had  aught 
To  give,  none  could  receive ;  none  ruled,  none  served  ; 
No  king,  no  subject  was  ;  unscutcbeoned  all, 
IJncrowned,  unplumed,  unhelmed,  i^npedigreed  ; 
Unlaced,  uncoronetted,  unbestarred. 
Nor  countryman  was  seen,  nor  citizen  ; 
Republican,  nor  humble  advocate 
Of  monarchy  ;  nor  idle  worshipper, 
Nor  beaded  papist,  nor  Mahometan  ; 
Episcopalian  none,  nor  presbyter  ; 
Nor  Lutheran,  nor  Calvinist,  nor  Jew, 
Nor  Greek,  uor  sectary  of  any  name. 


190  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Nor  of  those  persons  that  loud  title  bore — 
Most  high  and  mighty,  most  in»gni6ceDt ; 
M"st  potent,  most  august,  mosfworshipful, 
Most  eminent;  words  of  great  pomp,  that  pleased 
The  ear  of  vanity,  and  made  the  ni#rms 
Of  earth  mistake  themselves  for  gods — could  one 
Be  seen,  to  claim  these  phrases  obsolete. 

It  was  a  congregation  vast  of  men  ; 
Of  unappendaged,  and  unvarnished  men  ; 
Of  plain,  unceremonious  human  beings, 
Of  all  but  moral  character  bereaved. 
His  vice,  or  virtue  now  to  each  remained 
Alone.  All  else  with  their  grave-clothes  men  had 
Put  otf,  as  badges  worn  by  mortal,  not 
Immoitil  man  ;  alloy  that  could  not  pass 
The  scrutiny  of  Death's  refining  fires  ; 
Dust  of  Time's  wheels,  by  multitudes  pursued 
Of  fools  that  shouted — gold  !  fair  painted  fruit. 
At  which  ambitious idiotsjnmped,  while  men 
Of  wiser  mood  immortal  harvests  reaped  ; 
Weeds  of  the  human  garden,  sprung  from  earth's 
Adulterate  soil,  unfit  to  be  transplanted, 
Though  by  the  moral  botanist  too  oft 
For  flants  ot  heavenly  seed  mistaken,  and  nursed  ; 
Mere  chaflf  that  Virtue,  when  she  rose  from  earth 
And  waved  her  wings  to  gain  her  native  heights, 
Drove  from  the  verge  of  being,  leaving  vice 
No  mask  to  hide  her  in  ;  base  born  of  Time, 
In  which  God  claimed  no  property,  nor  bad 
Prepared  for  them  a  place  in  heaven,  or  hell, 
Vet  did  these  vain  distinctions,  now  forgot, 
Bulk  largely  in  the  filmy  eye  of  Time, 
And  were  exceeding  fair  ;  and  lured  to  death 
Immortal  souls.     But  they  were  past  ;  for  all 
Ideal  now  was  past  ;  reality 
Alone  remained  ;  and  good  and  bad,  redeemed 
And  unredeemed,  distinguished  sole  the  sous 
Of  men.    Each  to  his  proper  self  reduced, 


BOOK  VJH,  191 

And  undisguised,  was  what  his  seeming  showed. 

The  man  of  earthly  i5me,  whom  common  men 
Made  boast  of  having  seen — who  scarce  could  pass 
The  ways  of  Time,  p|r  eager  crowds  that  pressed 
To  do  him  homaje,  and  pursued  his  ear 
With  endless  praise,  for  deeds  unpraised  above, 
And  yoked  their  brutal  natures  honored  much 
To  drag  his  chariot  on — unnoticed  stood, 
With  none  to  praise  him,  none  to  flatter  there. 

Blushing  and  dumb,  that  mcminar,  too  was  seen 
The  mighty  reasoner,  he  who  deeply  searched 
The  origin  of  things,  and  talked  of  good 
And  evil  much,  of  causes  and  effects, 
Of  mind  and  matter,  contradictin»  all 
That  went  before  him,  and  himself  the  while, 
The  laughing-stock  of  angels  ;  diving  far 
Below  his  depth,  to  fetch  reluctant  proof. 
That  he  himself  was  mad  and  wicked  t»o, 
When,  proud  and  isnorant  man,  he  meant  to  prove, 
That  63d  had  made  the  universe  amiss, 
And  sketchel  a  betterplan.Ah  !  foolish  sage  ! 
He  could  not  trust  the  word  of  Heaven,  nor  see 
The  liffht  which  from  the  Bible  blazed— that  lamp 
Which  God  threw  from  his  palace  down  to  earth, 
To  guide  his  wondering  children  home — yet  leaned 
His  cautious  faith  on  speculations  wild. 
And  visionary  theories  absurd, 
Prodigiously,  deliriously  absurd, 
Compared  with  which,  the  most  erroneous  flight 
That  poet  ever  took  when  warm  with  wine. 
Was  moderate  conjecturing: — he  saw, 
Weighed  ia  the  balance  of  eternity, 
His  lore  how  light,  and  wished  too  late,  that  he 
Had  staid  at  home,  and  learned  'o  know  himself, 
And  done,  what  peasants  did,  disputed  less, 
And  more  obeyed.     Nor  less  he  grieved  his  time 
MisspeDf,fheraan  of  curious  research, 


192  THE  COURSK  OF  TIME. 

Who  travelled  far  thro*  lands  of  hostile  cliue, 

And  dangerous  inha>)iiaDt,  to  fix 

The  bounds  of  empires  past,  and  ascertain 

The  burial  place  of  heroes  never  bom  ; 

Despising  present  things,  and  future  too, 

And  groping  in  the  dark  unsearchable 

Of  finished  years — by  dreary  ruins  seen, 

And  dungeons  damp',  and  vaults  of  ancient  waste, 

With  spade  and  mattock,  delving  deep  to  raise 

Old  vases  and  dismembered  idols  rude  ; 

With  matchless  perseverance  spelling  out 

Words  without  sense.     Poor  man  !  he  clapped  his 

bands 
Enraptured,  when  he  found  a  manuscript 
That  spoke  of  pagan  gods ;  and  yet  forgot 
The  God  who  made  the  sea  and  sky,  alas  ! 
Forgot  that  trifling  was  a  sin  ;  stored  much 
Of  dubious  stuff,  but  laid  no  treasure  up 
In  heaven;  on  mouldered  columns  scratched  bis  naioe, 
Eut  ne'er  inscribed  it  in  the  book  of  life. 

Unprofitable  seemed,  and  unapproved, 
That  day,  the  sullen,  self-vindictive  life 
Of  the  recluse  :  with  crucifixes  hung, 
And  spells,  and  rosaries,  and  wooden  saints, 
Like  one  of  reason  reft,  he  journeyed  forth, 
In  show  of  miserable  poverty, 
And  chose  to  beg,  as  if  to  live  on  sweat 
Of  o'her  men,  had  promised  great  reward  ; 
On  his  own  flesh  inflicted  cruel  wounds, 
With  naked  foot  embraced  the  ice,  by  the  hour 
Said  mass,  and  did  most  grievous  penance  vile  ; 
And  then  retired  to  drink  the  filthy  cup 
Of  secret  wickedness,  and  fabricate 
All  lying  wonders,  by  the  untaught  received 
For  revelations  new.    Deluded  wl^etch  ! 
Did  he  not  know,  that  the  most  Holy  One 
Required  a  cheerful  life  and  holy  heart  ? 


BOOK  VIII.  19S 

Most  disappointed  in  that  crowfl  of  men. 
The  man  of  subtle  controversy  stood, 
The  bigot  theologian — in  minute 
Distinctions  skilled,  and  doctrines  nnredaced 
To  practice  ;  in  debate  how  lood  !  how  long  ! 
How  dexterous  !  in  christian  love,  how  cold  ! 
His  vain  conceits  were  orthodox  alone. 
The  immutable  and  heavenly  truth,  revealed 
By  God,  was  nought  to  him  :  he  had  an  art, 
A  kind  of  helliBh  charm,  that  made  the  lips 
Of  truth  speak  falsehood  ;  to  his  liking  turned 
The  meaning  of  the  text  ;  made  trifles  seem 
The  marrow  of  salvation  ;  to  a  word, 
A  name,  a  sect,  that  sounded  in  the  ear, 
And  to  the  eye  so  many  letters  showed, 
But  did  no  more — gave  value  infinite  ; 
Proved  still  his  reasoning  best,  and  his  belief, 
Though  propped  on  fancies,  wild  as  madmen's  dreams: 
Most  rational,  most  scriptural,  most  sound  ; 
With  mortal  heresy  denouncing  all 
Who  in  his  areuments  could  see  no  force. 
On  points  of  faith  too  fine  for  human  sight, 
And  never  understood  in  heaven,  he  placed 
His  everlasting  hope,  undoubting  placed, 
And  died  :  and  when  he  opened  his  ear,  prepared 
To  hear,  beyond  the  grave,  the  minstrelsy 
Of  bliss— he  heard,  alas  '.  the  wail  of  wo. 
He  proved  all  creeds  false  but  his  own,  and  found 
At  last,  his  own  most  false — most  false,  because 
He  spent  his  time  to  prove  all  others  so. 

0  love  destroying,  cursed  bigotry  ! 
Cursed  in  heaven,  but  cursed  more  in  hell, 
Where  millions  curse  thee,  and  mns!  ever  curse. 
Religion's  most  abhorred  !  perdition's  most 
Forlorn  !  God's  most  abandoned  I  hell's  most  dainiied ! 
The  infidel,  who  turned  his  impious  war 
Against  the  walls  of  Zion,  on  the  rock 
Of  ages  boilt,  aod  higher  than  the  clouds. 


191  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME, 

Sinned,  and  received  his  due  reward  ;  bot  she 

Within  her  walls  sinned  more  :  of  ienorance 

Begot,  her  daughter,  Persecution,  walked 

The  earth,  from  age  to  a?e,  and  drank  the  blood 

Of  saints,  with  horrid  relish  drank  the  blood 

Of  God's  peculiar  children — and  was  drunk  ; 

And  in  her  drunkenness  dreamed  of  doing  good. 

The  supplicating  hand  of  innocence, 

That  made  the  tiger  mild,  and  in  his  wrath 

The  lion  pause — the  groans  of  suffering  most 

Severe,  were  nauzht  to  her  :  she  laughed  at  groaia  : 

No  music  pleased  her  more  ;  and  no  repast 

So  sweet  to  her  as  blood  of  men  redeemed 

By  blood  of  Christ.    Ambition's  self,  though  mad, 

And  nursed  on  human  gore,  with  her  compared 

Was  merciful.     Nor  did  she  always  rage  : 

She  had  some  hours  of  meditation,  set 

Apart,  wherein  she  to  her  study  went, 

The  Inquisition,  model  most  co'mplete 

Of  perfect  wickedness,  where  deeds  were  done, 

Deeds  !  let  them  ne'er  be  named, — and  sat  and  planned 

Deliberate!  V,  and  with  most  musing  pains, 

How,  to  exlremest  thrill  of  agony. 

The  flesh,  and  blood,  and  souls  of  holy  men, 

Her  victims,  might  be  wrought ;  and  wheo  she  saw 

New  tortures  of  her  laboring  fancy  born, 

She  leaped  for  joy,  and  made  great  haste  to  try 

Their  force — well  pleased  to  hear  a  deeper  groan. 

Bdt  now  her  day  of  mirth  was  past,  and  come 

Her  day  to  weep  ;  her  day  of  bitter  groans, 

And  sorrow  unbemoaned  ;  the  day  of  grief, 

And  wrath  retributary  poured  in  full 

On  all  that  took  her  part.    The  man  of  sin. 

The  mystery  of  iniquity,  her  friend 

Sincere,  who  pardoned  sin,  unpardoned  etill. 

And  in  the  name  of  God  blasphemed,  and  did 

All  wicked,  all  abominable  things. 

Most  abject  stood  that  day,  by  devils  hissed. 

And  by  the  looks  of  those  he  murdered,  scorched  • 


BOOK  VIII.  195 

And  plagued  with  inward  shame  that  on  his  check 
Burned,  while  his  votaries  who  left  the  earth, 
Secure  of  bliss,  around  him  undeceived 
Stood,  urideceivable  till  then  ;  and  knew 
Too  late,  him  fallible,  themselves  accursed, 
And  all  their  passports  and  cerliCcales, 
A  lie  :  nor  disappointed  more,  nor  more 
Ashamed,  the  Mussulman,  when  he  saw,  gnash 
His  teeth  and  wail,  whom  he  expected  Judge. 
All  these  were  damned  for  bigotry,  were  damned, 
Because  Ihey  thought,  that  they  alone  served  God, 
And  served  him  most,  when  most  they  disobeyed. 

Of  those  forlorn  and  sad,  thou  mightst  have  marked. 
In  cumber  most  innumerable  stand 
The  indolent  :  too  lazy  these  to  mate 
Inquiry  for  themselves,  Ihi-y  stuck  their  faith 
To  sonie  well  fatted  priest,  with  oiferings  bribed 
To  bring  them  oracles  of  peace,  and  take 
Into  his  management,  all  the  concerns 
Of  their  eternity  :  managed  how  well 
They  knew  that  day,  and  might  have  sooner  known. 
That  the  commandment  was  :  Search  and  believe 
In  Me,  and  not  in  man  ;  who  leans  on  him 
Leans  on  a  broken  reed  that  will  impierce 
The  trusted  side.     1  am  the  way,  the  truth, 
The  life  alone,  and  there  is  none  besides. 

This  did  Ihey  read,  and  yet  refused  to  search. 
To  search  what  easily  was  found,  and  found, 
Of  price  uncountable.     Most  foolish,  they 
Thought  God  with  ignorance  pleased  and  blinded  tilth 
That  took  not  root  in  reason,  purified 
With  holy  iofluence  of  his  Spirit  pure. 
So,  on  they  walked  and  stumbled  in  the  light 
Of  noon,  because  they  would  not  open  their  eyes. 
Effect  how  sad  of  sloih  !  that  made  them  risk 
Their  piloting  to  the  eternal  shore, 
To  one  who  could  mistake  the  lurid  flash 
N2 


196  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  hell  for  heaven's  true  star,  rather  than  bow 
The  knee,  and  by  one  fervent  word  obtain 
His  guidance  sure,  who  calls  the  stars  by  name. 
They  prayed  by  proxy,  and  at  second  hand 
Believed,'and  slept  and  put  repentance  off. 
Until  the  knock  of  death  awoke  them,  when 
They  saw  their  ignorance  both,  and  him  thev  paid 
To  bargain  of  their  souls  'twixt  them  and  (jod, 
Fled,  and  began  repentance  without  end. 
How  did  they  wish  that  morning,  as  they  stood 
With  blushing  covered,  they  had  for  themselves 
The  Scripture  searched,  bad  for  themselves  believed, 
And  made  acquaintance  with  the  Judge  ere  then  ! 

Great  day  of  termination  to  the  joys 
Of  sin  !  to  joys  that  grew  on  mortal  bonghs — 
On  treeo  whose  seed  fell  not  from  heaven,  whose  fop 
Reached  not  above  the  clouds.    From  such  alone 
The  epicure  took  all  his  meals  :  in  choice 
Of  morsels  for  the  body,  nice  he  was 
And  scrupulous,  and  knew  all  wines  by  smell 
Or  taste,  and  every  composition  knew 
Of  cookery  ;  but  grossly  drank  unskilled 
The  cup  of  spiritual  pollution  up, 
That  sickened  his  soul  to  death,  while  yet  his  ey«e 
Stood  out  with  fat :  his  feelings  were  his  giiide  ; 
He  ate,  and  drank,  and  slept,  and  took  all  joys. 
Forbid  and  unforbid,  as  impulse  urged. 
Or  appetite  ;  nor  asked  his  reason  why. 
He  said,  be  followed  nature  still,  but  lied  ; 
For  she  was  temperate  and  chaste,  he  full 
Of  wine  and  all  adultery  ;  her  face 
Was  holv,  most  unholy'his;  her  eye 
Was  '-'we,  his  shot  unhallowed  fire  ;  her  lips 
Sang  ^  raise  to  God,  his  uttered  oaths  profane  ; 
Her  ^iCath  was  sweet,  his  rank  with  foul  debauch. 
Yet  pleaded  he  a  kind  and  feeling  heart. 
Even  when  he  left  a  neighbor's  bed  defiled. 
Like  migratory  fowls  that  flocking  sailed 


Whither  the  clime  their  liking  best  beseemed  ; 
So  he  was  guided  ;  so  he  moved  through  good 
And  evil,  right  and  wrong,  but  ah  !  to  fate 
All  different  ;  they  slept  in  dust  unpained  ; 
He  rose  that  day  to  suffer  endless  pain. 

Cured  of  his  unbelief,  the  sceptic  stood, 
Who  doubted  of  his  being  while  he  breathed ; 
Than  whom,  glossograpby  itself,  that  spoke 
Huge  folios  of  nonsense  every  hour, 
And  left,  surrounding  every  page,  its  marks 
Of  prodigal  stupidilv,  scarce  more 
Of  folly  raved.     The  Tyrant  too,  who  sat 
In  grisiy  council,  like  a  spider  couched, 
With  ministers  of  locust  countenance, 
And  made  alliances  to  rob  mankind, 
And  holy  termed — for  still  beneath  a  name 
Of  pious'  sound  the  wicked  sought  to  veil 
Their  crimes — forgetful  of  his  right  divine, 
Trembled,  and  owned  oppression  was  of  hell. 
Nor  did  the  uncivil  robber,  who  unpursed 
The  traveller  on  the  high  way  and  cut 
His  throat,  anticipate  severer  doom. 

In  that  assembly  there  was  one,  who,  while 
Beneath  the  «un,  aspired  to  be  a  fool  : 
In  different  ages  known  by  different  names, 
Not  worth  repeating  here.    Be  this  enough  : 
With  scrupulous  care  exact,  he  walked  the  rotinds 
Of  fashionable  duty  ;  laughed  when  sad  ; 
When  merry,  wept  ;  deceiving,  wa-s  deceiTed  ; 
And  fiaiterine,  flattered.     Fashion  was  his  god. 
Obsequiously  he  fell  before  its  shrine. 
In  slavish  plight,  and  trembled  to  offend. 
If  graveness  suiied,  he  was  grave  ;  if  else, 
He  travailed  sorely,  and  made  brief  repose, 
To  work  the  proper  quantity  of  sin. 
In  all  submissive,  to  its  changing  shape, 
N3 


198  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Still  chansrin^,  girded  he  his  vexed  frame, 
And  laughter  made  to  men  of  sounder  head. 
Most  circumspect  he  was  of  bows,  and  nods, 
And  salutations  ;  and  most  seriously 
And  deeply  meditated  he  of  dress  ; 
And  in  his  dreams  saw  lace  and  ribbons  fly. 
His  soul  was  nought — he  damned  it  every  day 
Unceremoniously.     Oh  !  fool  of  fools  ! 
Pleased  with  a  painted  smile,  he  fluMered  On, 
Like  fly  of  gaudy  plume,  by  fashion  driven. 
As  faded  leaves  by  Autumn's  wind,  till  Death 
Put  forth  his  hand  and  drew  him  out  of  sight. 
Oh  !  fool  of  fools  !  polite  to  man  ;  to  God 
Most  rude  :  yet  had  he  many  rivals,  who, 
Age  after  age,  great  striving  made  to  be 
Ridiculous,  and  to  forget  they  had 
Immortal  souls — that  day  remembered  well. 

As  rueful  stood  his  other  half,  as  wan 
Of  cheek  :  small  her  ambition  was — but  strange. 
The  distaff,  needle,  all  domestic  cares. 
Religion,  children,  husband,  home,  were  things 
She  could  not  bear  the  thought  of  ;  bitter  drugs 
That  sickened  her  soul.     The  house  of  wanton  mirth 
And  revelry,  the  mask,  the  dance,  she  loved, 
And  in  their  service  soul  and  body  spent 
Most  cheerfully  ;  a  little  admiration. 
Or  true,  or  false,  no  matter  which,  pleased  her, 
And  o'er  the  wreck  of  fortune  lost,  aad  health, 
And  peace,  and  an  eternity  of  bliss 
Lost,  made  her  siveelly  smile  :  She  was  convinced 
That  God  had  made  her  greatly  out  of  taste. 
And  took  much  pains  to  make'herself  anew. 
Bedaubed  with  paint,  and  hung  with  ornaments 
Of  curious  selection— gaudy  toy  ! 
A  show  unpaid  for.  paying  to  be  seen  ! 
As  beggar  by  the  way,  most  humbly  asking 
The  alms  of  public  gaze — she  went  abroad  ; 
Folly  admired  and  indication  gave 


BOOK  VIII.  I! 

Of  envy  ;  cold  civility  made  bows, 

And  smoothly  flattered  ;  wisdom  shook  his  head  ; 

And  laughter  shaped  his  lip  into  a  smile  : 

Sobriety  did  stare  ;  forethought  grew  pale  ; 

And  modesty  hung  down  the  head  and  blushed  ; 

And  pity  wept,  as  on  the  frothy  surge 

Of  fashion  tossed,  she  passed  them  by,  like  sail 

Before  some  devilish  blast,  and  got  no  time 

To  think,  and  never  thought,  till  on  the  rock 

She  dashed  of  ruin,  anguish,  and  despair. 

0  how  unlike  this  giddy  thing  in  Time  ! 
And  at  the  day  of  judgment  how  unlike  '. 
The  modest,  meek,  retiring  dame.    Her  house 
Was  ordered  well  ;  her  children  taught  the  way 
Of  life — who,  rising  up  in  honor,  called 
Her  blest.    Best  pleased  to  be  admired  at  home. 
And  hear  reflected  from  her  husband's  praise, 
Her  own,  she  sought  no  gaze  of  foreign  eye. 
His  praise  alone,  and  faithful  love  and  trust 
Reposed,  was  happiness  enough  for  her. 
Yet  who  that  saw  her  pass,  and  heard  the  poor 
With  earnest  benedictions  on  her  steps 
Attend,  could  from  obeisance  keep  his  eye, 
Or  tongue  from  due  applause.     In  virtue  fair, 
Adorned  with  modesty,  and  matron  grace 
Unspeakable,  and  love — her  face  was  like 
The  light,  most  welcome  to  the  eye  of  man  ; 
Refreshing  most,  most  honored,  most  desired 
Of  all  he  saw  in  the  dim  world  below. 
As  morning  when  she  shed  her  golden  locks, 
And  on  the  dewy  top  of  Hermon  walked, 
Or  Zion  hill— so  glorious  was  her  path  : 
Old  men  beheld,  and  did  her  reverence. 
And  bade  their  daughters  look,  and  take  from  her 
Example  of  their  future  life  :  the  young 
Admired,  and  new  resolve  of  virtue  made. 
And  none  who  was  her  husband  asked  :  his  air 
Serene,  and  countenance  of  joj,  the  sign 


200  THE  COUBSE  Of  TIME. 

Of  inward  satisfactioD,  as  he  passed 

The  crowd,  or  sat  among  the  elders,  told. 

In  holiness  complete,  and  in  the  robes 

Of  saving  righteousness,  arrayed  for  heaven, 

How  fair,  that  day,  among  the  fair,  she  stood  I 

How  lovely  on  the  eternal  hills  her  steps  ! 

Restored  to  reason,  on  that  mom  appeared 
The  lunatic — who  raved  in  chains,  and  asked 
ISO  mercy  when  he  died.     Of  lunacy 
Innumerous  wete  thecatises  :  humbled  pride, 
Ambition  disappointed,  riches  lost, 
And  bodily  disease,  and  sorrow,  oft 
Ky  man  inflicted  on  his  brother  man  ; 
Sorrow  that  made  the  reason  drunk,  and  yet 
Left  much  untasted — so  the  clip  wasfdied  : 
Sorrow  that  like  an  ocean,  dark,  deep,  rough, 
And  shoreless,  rolled  its  billows  o'er  the  soul 
Perpetually,  and  wiihout  hope  of  end. 

Take  one  example,  one  of  female  wo. 
Loved  by  a  father,  and  a  mother's  love, 
In  rural  peace  she  lived,  so  fair,  so  light 
Of  heart,  so  good,  and  young,  that  reason  scares 
The  eye  could  credit,  but  would  doubt,  as  she 
Did  stoop  to  pull  the  lily  or  the  rose 
From  morning'sdew,  if  it  reality 
Of  flesh  and  blood,  or  holy  vision,  saw, 
In  imagery  of  perfect  womanhood. 
But  short  her  bloom — her  happiness  was  short 
One  saw  her  loveliness,  and  with  desire 
Unhallowed,  burning,  to  her  ear  addressed 
Dishonest  words  :  "Her  favor  was  his  life. 
His  heaven  ;  her  frown  his  wo,  his  night,  his  death.'* 
With  turgid  phrase  thus  wove  in  flattery's  loom, 
He  on  her  womanish  nature  won,  and  aige 
Suspicioniess,  and  ruined  and  forsook  : 
For  be  a  chosen  villain  was  at  heart, 
Ajid  capable  of  deeds  that  durat  not  seek 


BOOK  VIII.  a 

Repentance.    Soon  her  father  saw  her  shame : 
His  heart  grew  stone  ;  he  drove  her  forth  to  want 
And  wintry  winds,  and  with  a  horrid  curse 
Pursued  her  ear,  forbidding  all  return. 

Upon  a  hoary  cliff  that  watched  the  sea. 
Her  babe  was  found — dead  :  on  its  little  check, 
The  tear  that  nature  bade  it  weep,  had  turned 
An  ice-drop,  sparklin?  in  the  morning  beam  ; 
And  to  the  turf  its  helpless  hands  were  frozsn  : 
For  she — the  woful  mother,  had  gone  mad, 
And  laid  it  down,  regardless  of  its  fate 
And  of  her  own.     Yet  bad  she  many  days 
Of  sorrow  in  the  world,  but  never  wept. 
She  lived  on  alms  ;  and  carried  in  her  band 
Some  withered  stalks,  she  gathered  in  the  spring  : 
When  any  asked  the  cause,  she  smiled,  and  said 
They  were  her  sisters,  and  would  come  and  watch 
Her  grave  when  she  was  dead.     She  never  spoKe 
Of  her  deceiver,  father,  mother,  home. 
Or  child,  or  heaven,  or  hell,  or  God  ;  but  still 
In  lonely  places  walked,  and  ever  gazed 
Upon  the  withered  stalks,  and  talked  to  them  ; 
Till  wasted  to  the  shadow  of  her  youth. 
With  wo  too  wide  to  see  beyond — she  died  : 
Not  unatoned  for  by  imputed  blood. 
Nor  by  the  spirit  that  mys'erious  works, 
Unsanctified.    Aloud  her  father  cursed 
That  day  his  guilty  pride  which  would  not  own 
A  daughter  whom  the  God  of  heaven  and  earth. 
Was  not  ashamed  to  call  his  own  ;  and  he 
Who  ruined  her,  read  from  her  holy  look. 
That  pierced  him  with  perdition,  manifold, 
His  sentence,  burning  with  vindictive  fire. 

The  judge  that  took  a  bribe  ;  he  who  amiss 
Pleaded  the  widow's  cause,  and  by  delay 
Delaying  ever,  made  the  Ian-  at  night 
More  intricate  than  at  the  dawn,  aiid  on 


202  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

The  morrow  farther  from  a  close,  than  when 

The  sun  last  set,  till  be  who  in  the  suit 

Was  poorest,  by  his  empty  coffers,  proved 

His  cause  the  worst  ;  and  he  that  had  the  bag 

Of  weights  deceitful,  and  the  balance  false  ; 

And  he  that  with  a  fraudful  lip  deceived 

In  buying  or  in  selling  : — these  that  mom 

Found  custom  no  excuse  for  sin,  and  knew 

Plain  dealing  was  a  virtue,  but  too  late. 

And  he  that  was  supposed  to  do  nor  good 

Kor  ill,  surprised,  could  find  no  neutral  ground  ; 

And  learned,  that  to  do  nothing  was  to  serve 

The  devil,  and  transgress  the  laws  of  God. 

The  noisy  quack,  that  by  profession  lied, 

And  uttered  falsehoods  of  enormous  size, 

With  countenance  as  grave  as  truth  beseemed  ; 

And  he  that  lied  for  pleasure,  whom  a  lust 

Of  being  heard,  and  making  people  stare. 

And  a  most  steadfast  hate  of  silence,  drove 

Far  wideof  sicred  truth,  who  never  took 

The  pains  to  think  of  what  he  was  to  say. 

But  still  made  haste  to  speak,  with  weary  tongue, 

Like  copious  stream  forever  flowing  on — 

Read  clearly  in  the  lettered  heavens  what  long 

Before  they  might  have  read  :  for  every  word 

Of  folly  you  this  day  shall  give  account , 

And  everv  liar  shall  his  portion  have 

Among  the  cursed,  without  the  gates  of  life. 

With  groans  that  made  no  pause,  lamenting  there 
Were  seen  the  duellist,  and  suicide: 
This  thought,  but  thought  amiss,  that  of  himself 
He  was  entire  proprietor  ;  and  so. 
When  he  was  tired  of  lime,  with  his  own  band, 
He  opened  the  portals  of  eternity. 
And  sooner  than  the  devils  hoped,  arrived 
In  hell.    The  other,  of  rf  sentment  quick, 
And,  for  a  word,  a  look,  a  gesture,  deemed 
Not  scrupulously  exact  in  all  respect, 


BOOK  VIII.  20 

Prompt  to  revenue,  went  to  the  cited  field, 

For  double  murder  armed— his  own,  and  bis 

Ttiat  as  himself  he  was  ordained  to  love. 

The  first  in  pagan-books  ot  early  limes, 

Was  heroism  pronounced,  and  ^really  praised. 

In  fashion's  glossary  of  later  days, 

The  last  was  honor  called,  and  spirit  high. 

Alas  '.  'twas  mortal  spirit  ;  honor  which 

Forgot  to  wake  at  the  last  trumpet's  voice, 

Bearing  the  signature  of  time  alone, 

Uucurrent  in  eternity,  and  base. 

Wise  men  suspected  this  before  ;  for  they 

Could  never  understand  what  honor  meant ; 

Or  why  that  should  be  honor  termed  which  made 

Man  murder  man,  and  broke  the  laws  of  God 

Most  wantonly.     Sometimes,  indeed,  the  grave, 

And  those  of  christian  creed  imagined,  spoke 

Admiringly  of  honor,  lauding  much 

The  noble  youth,  who,  after  miny  rounds 

Of  boiing,  died  ;  or  to  the  pistol  shot 

His  breast  exposed,  his  soul  to  endless  pain. 

But  they  who  most  admired,  and  understood 

This  honor  best,  and  on  its  altar  laid 

Their  lives,  most  obviously  were  fools  :  and  what 

Fools  only,  and  the  wicked  understood — 

The  wise  agreed,  was  some  delusive  Shade, 

That  with  the  mist  of  time  should  disappear. 

Great  day  of  revelation  !  in  the  grave 
The  hypocrite  had  left  kie  mask  ;  and  stood 
In  naked  ugliness.     He  was  a  man 
Who  stole 'the  livery  of  the  court  of  heaven 
To  serve  the  devil  in  ;  in  virtue's  guise 
Devoured  the  widow's  house  and  orphan's  bread  ; 
In  holy  phrase  transacted  villanies 
That  common  sinners  durst  not  meddle  with. 
At  sacred  feast,  he  sat  among  the  saints. 
And  with  his  guilty  hands  touched  holiest  things. 
And  none  of  sin  lamented  more,  or  sighed 


204  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Mo»e  deeply,  or  with  graver  countenance, 

Or  longer  prayer,  wept  o'er  the  dj  ing  man, 

Whose  infant  children,  at  the  moment,  he 

Planned  how  to  rob  :  in  sermon  style  be  bought, 

And  sold,  and  lied  ;  and  salutations  made 

In  scripture  terms  :  he  prayed  by  quantity, 

And  with  his  repetitions  long  and  loud, 

All  knee!  were  weary  ;  with  one  hand  he  put 

A  penny  in  the  urn  of  povertv. 

And  with  the  other  took  a  shilling  out. 

On  charitable  lists — those  trumps  which  told 

The  public  ear,  who  had  in  secret  done 

The  poor  a  benefit,  and  half  the  alms 

They  told  of,  took  themselves  to  keep  them  sounding; 

He  blazed  his  name,  more  pleased  to  have  it  there 

Than  in  the  book  of  life.    Seest  thou  the  man  ! 

A  serpent  with  an  angel's  voice  !  a  grave 

With  flower?  bestrewed  !  and  yet  few  were  deceived. 

His  virtues  being  over-done,  his  face 

Too  grave,  bis  prayers  too  long,  his  charities 

Too  pompously  attended,  and  his  speech 

Larded  too  frequently,  apd  out  of  time 

With  serious  phraseology— were  rents 

That  in  his  garments  opened  in  spite  of  him, 

Thro'  which  the  well  accustomed  eye  could  see 

The  rottenness  of  his  heart.     None'deeper  blushed, 

As  in  the  all  piercing  light  he  stood  exposed. 

No  longer  herding  with  the  holy  ones  : 

Yet  still  he  tried  to  bring  his  countenance 

To  sanctimonious  seeming  ;  hut,  meanwhile, 

The  shame  within,  now  visible  to  all. 

His  purpose  baulked  :  the  risrhteous  smiled,  and  even 

Despair  itself  some  signs  of  laughter  gave. 

As  ineffectually  he  strove  to  wipe 

His  brow,  that  inward  guiltiness  defiled. 

Detected  wretch  I  of  all  the  reprobate, 

None  seemed  maturerfor  the  flames  of  hell  ; 

^Vhere  still  bis  face,  from  ancient  custom,  wears 

A  holy  air,  which  says  to  all  that  past 


BOOK  VIII,  I 

Bim  by  :  I  was  a  hypocrite  on  earth. 

That  was  the  hour  which  measured  out  to  each, 
Impartially,  his  share  of  reputation  ! 
Correcting  all  mistakes,  and  from  the  name 
Of  the  good  man,  all  slanders  wiping  off. 
Good  name  was  dear  to  all  :  without  it,  nona 
Could  soundly  sleep  even  on  a  royal  bed  ; 
Or  drink  with  relish  from  a  cup  of  gold  : 
And  with  it,  on  his  borrowed  straw  or  by 
The  leafless  hedge,  beneath  the  open  heavens. 
The  weary  beggar  took  untroubled  rest. 
It  was  a  music  of  most  heavenly  tone, 
To  which  the  heart  leaped  joyfully,  and  all 
The  spirits  danced  :  for  honest  fame,  men  laid 
Their  heads  upon  the  block,  and  while  theaie 
Descended,  looked  and  smiled.     It  wasof  price 
Invaluable — riches,  health,  repose, 
Whole  kingdoms,  life,  were  given  for  it,  and  ha 
Who  got  it  was  the  winner  still  ;  and  he 
Who  sold  it,  durst  not  open  hid  ear,  nor  look 
On  human  face,  he  knew  himself  so  vile. 
Yet  it,  with  all  its  preciousnesj,  was  due 
To  Virtue,  and  around  her  should  have  shed, 
Unasked,  iis  savory  smell  ;  but  Vice,  deformed 
Itself,  atid  ugly,  and  of  flavor  rank. 
To  rob  fair  Virtue  of  so  sweet  an  incense, 
And  with  it  to    anoint,  and  salve  its  own 
RoUen  ulcers,  and  perfume  the  path  that  led 
To  death,  strove  daily  by  a  thousand  means  ; 
And  oft  succeeded  to  make  Virtue  sour 
In  the  world's  nostrils,  and  its  loathly  self 
Smell  sweetly.     Rumcr  was  the  messenger 
Of  defamation— and  so  swift  that  none 
Could  be  the  first  to  tell  an  evil  tale; 
And  was  nilhal  so  infamous  for  lies, 
That  he  who  of  her  sayings  on  his  creed 
The  fewest  entered,  was  deemed  wisest  njaa. 
The  fool,  and  many  who  had  credit  too 


206  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

For  wisdom,  grossly  swallowed  all  she  said 
Unsifted  ;  and  although  at  every  word 
They  heard  her  contradict  herself,  and  saw 
Hourly  they  were  imposed  upon,  and  mocked. 
Yet  still  they  ran  to  hear  her  speak,  and  stared, 
And  wondered  much,  and  stood  aghast,  and  said  : 
Jt  could  not  be  :  and  while  they  blushed  for  shame 
At  their  own  faith,  and  seemed  to  doubt— believed, 
And  whom  they  met,  with  many  sanctions,  told. 
So  did  experience  fail  to  teach  ;  so  hard 
It  was  to  learn  this  simple  truth,  confirmed 
At  every  corner  by  a  thousand  proofs — 
That  common  fame  most  impudently  lied. 

'Twas  Slander  filled  her  mouth  with  lying  words; 
Slander,  the  foulest  whelp  of  Sin  ;  the  man 
In  whom  this  spirit  entered  was  undone. 
His  tongue  was  set  on  fire  of  hell  ;  his  heart 
Was  black  as  death  ;  bis  legs  were  faint  with  haste 
To  propagate  the  lie  his  soul  had  framed  ; 
His  pillow  was  the  peace  of  families 
Destroyed,  the  sigh  of  innocence  leproached. 
Broken  friendships,  and  the  strife  of  brotherhoods  : 
Yet  did  he  spare  his  sleep,  and  hear  the  clock 
Kumber  the  midnight  watches,  on  his  bed, 
Devising  mischief  more  ;  and  early  rose. 
And  made  most  hellish  meals  of  gof-d  men's  names. 

From  door  to  door  you  might  haye  seen  him  speed, 
Or  placed  amidst  a  group  of  gaping  fools. 
And  whispering  in  their  ears,  with  his  foul  lips. 
Peace  fled  tlie  neighborhood  in  which  he  made 
His  haunts  ;  and  like  a  moral  pestilence, 
Before  his  breath  the  healthy  shoots,  the  blooms 
Of  social  joy,  and  happiness,  decayed. 
Fools  only  m  his  company  were  seen. 
And  those  forsaken  of  God,  and  to  themselves 
Given  up  :  the  prudent  shunned  him,  and  hi*  house, 
As  one  who  had  a  deadly  moral  plague. 


And  fain  would  all  have  shunned  him  at  the  day 
Of  judgment ;  but  in  vain.    All  who  save  ear 
With  greediness,or  wittingly  their  tongues 
Made  herald  to  his  lies,  around  him  wailed  ; 
While  on  his  face,  thrown  back  by  injured  men, 
In  characters  of  ever-blushing  shame. 
Appeared  ten  thousand  slanders,  all  his  own. 

Among  the  accursed,  who  sought  a  hiding-pla.ee 
In  Tain  from  fierceness  of  Jehovah's  rage. 
And  from  the  hot  displeasure  of  the  Lantb, 
Most  wretched,  most  contemptible,  most  vile,— 
Stood  the  false  priest,  and  in  his  conscience  felt 
The  fellest  gnaw  of  the  undying  Worm. 
And  so  he  might,  for  he  had  on  his  hands 
The  blood  of  souls,  that  would  not  wipe  away. 
Hear  what  he  was  : — He  swore  in  sigh*  of  God, 
And  man,  to  preach  his  master,  Jesus  Christ  ; 
Yet  preached  himself:  he  swore  that  love  of  souls 
Alone,  had  drawn  him  to  the  church  :  yet  strewed 
The  path  that  led  to  hell,  with  tempting  flowers. 
And  in  the  ear  of  sinners,  as  they  took 
The  way  of  death,  he  whispered 'peace :  he  swore 
Away  all  love  of  lucre,  all  desire 


Gave  most  rapacious  ear  :  his  prophecies, 

He  swore,  were  from  the  I/^rd  ;  and  yet  taught  lies 

For  gain  :  with  quackish  ointment  h^led  the  wounds 

And  bruises  of  the  soul,  outside,  but  left 

Within  the  pestilent  matter  unoliserved, 

To  sap  the  moral  constitution  quite, 

And  soon  to  burst  again,  incurable. 

He  with  untempered  mor'ar  daubed  the  walls 

Of  Zion,  saying.  Peace,  when  there  was  none. 

The  man  who  came  with  thirsty  sonl  to  hear 

Of  Jesus,  went  away  unsatisfied  : 

For  he  another  gospel  preached  than  Paul, 

And  one  that  had  no  Saviour  in't.    And  yet 


208  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

His  life  Was  worse  :  Faith,  charity,  and  love. 

Humility,  forgiveness,  holiness. 

Were  word?  well  lettered  in  his  sabbath  creed  ; 

But  with  his  life  he  wrote  as  plain  :  Revenge, 

Pride,  tyranny,  and  lust  of  wealth  and  power 

Inordinate,  and  lewdness  unashamed. 

He  was  a  wolf  jn  clothing  of  the  lamb, 

That  stole  into  the  fold  of  God,  and  on 

The  blood  of  souls  which  he  did  sell  to  death, 

Grew  fat :  and  yet  when  any  would  have  turned 

Him  out  he  cried  :— Touch  not  the  priest  of  God. 

And  that  he  was    anointed,  fools  believed  : 

But  knew  that  day,  he  was  the  devil's  priest  : 

Anointed   by  the  hands  of  Sin  and  Death, 

And  set  peculiarly  apart  to  ill, — 

While  on  him  smoked  the  vials  of  perdition 

Poured  measureless.    Ah  me  !  what  cursing  then 

Was  heaped  upon  his  head  by  ruined  souls 

That  charged  him  with  their  murder,  as  he  stood 

With  eye  of  all  the  unredeemed  most  sad, 

Waiting  the  coming  of  th  e  Son  of  Man  ! 

But  let  me  pause,  for  thou  hast  seen  his  place, 

And  punishment  beyond  the  sphere  of  love. 

Much  was  removed  that  tempted  once  to  sin. 
Avarice  no  gold,  no  wine  the  drunkard  saw  : 
But  Envy  had  enough,  as  heretofore. 
To  fill  bis  heart  with  gall  and  bitterness. 
What  made  the  man  of  envy  what  he  was, 
Was  worth  in  others,  vileness  in  himself, 
A  lust  of  praise,  with  undeserving  deeds. 
And  conscious  poverty  of  soul:  and  still 
It  was  his  earnest  work  and  daily  toil 
With  lying  tongue,  to  make  the  noble  seem 
Mean  as  himself.    On  fame's  high  hill  he  saw 
The  laurel  spread  its  everlasting  green. 
And  wished  to  climb  :  but  felt  bis  knee*  too  weak  i 
And  stood  below  unhappy,  laying  hands 
Upon  the  strong  ascending  gloriously 


BOOK  VIII.  203 

The  steps  of  honor,  hent  to  draw  them  back  ; 

Involving  oft  the  brightness  of  their  path 

In  mists  his  breath  had  raised.    Whene'er  he  beard, 

As  oft  he  did  of  joy  and  happiness, 

And  great  prosperity,  and  rising  worth, 

'Twas  like  a  wave  of  wormwood  o'er  his  soul 

Rolling  its  bi'tercess.     His  joy  was  wo  : 

The  no  of  others  :  when  from  wealth  to  want, 

From  praises  to  reproach,  from  peace  to  strife, 

From  mirth  to  tears,  he  saw  a  brother  fall. 

Or  virtue  make  a  slip — his  dreams  were  sweet. 

But  chief  with  Slander,  daughter  of  his  own, 

He  took  unhallowed  pleasure  :  when  she  talked 

And  with  her  filthy  lips  defiled  the  best. 

His  ear  drew  near  ;  with  wide  attention  gaped 

His  mouth  ;  his  eye,  well  pleased,  as  eager  gazed 

As  glutton,  when'the  dish  he  most  desired 

Was  placed  before  him  ;  and  a  horrid  mirth, 

At  intervals,  with  laughter  shook  his  sides. 

The  critic,  too.  who,  "for  a  bit  of  bread, 

In  book  that  fell  aside  before  the  ink 

Was  dry,  poured  forth  excessive  nonsense,  gave 

Him  much  delight.    The  critics — some,  but  few, 

Were  worthy  men  ;  and  earned  renown  which  had 

Immortal  roots  :  but  most  were  weak  and  vile  : 

And  as  a  cloudy  swarm  of  summer  flies. 

With  angry  hum  and  slender  lance,  beset 

The  sides  of  some  huge  animal  ;  so  did 

They  buzz  alicut  the  Illustrious  man,  and  fain 

With  his  immortal  honor,  down  the  stream 

Of  fame  would  have  descended  ;  but  alas  ! 

The  hand  of  Time  drove  them  away  :  they  were, 

Indeed  a  simple  race  of  men,  who  had 

One  only  an,  which  taught  them  s^ill  to  say, 

Whaie'er  was  done,  m  ieht  have  been  better  done- 

And  with  this  art,  not  ill  to  learn  they  made 

A  shift  to  live  :  but  sometimes  too,  beneath 

The  dust  they  raised,  was  worth  awhile  obscured  ; 

And  then  did  Envy  prophesy  and  laugh. 


210  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

O  Envy  !  hide  thy  bosom  !  hide  it  deep  : 

A  tboasand  SDakes,  with  black  envenomed  mouth*, 

Nest  there,  and  hiss,  and  feed  thro'  all  thy  heart  ! 

Soch  one  I  saw,  here  interposing,  said 
The  new  arrived,  in  that  dark  den  of  shame, 
Whom,  who  hath  seen  shall  never  wish  to  see 
A^in  :  before  him,  in  the  infernal  gloom, 
That  omnipresent  shape  of  Virtue  stood. 
On  which  he  ever  threw  his  eye  ;  and  like 
A  cinder  that  had  life  and  feeling,  seemed 
His  face,  with  ioward  pining,  to  be  what 
He  could  not  be.    As  being  that  had  burned 
Continually  in  slow  consuming  fire. 
Half  an  eternity,  and  was  to  burn 
For  evermore,  he  looked.    Oh  !  sight  to  be 
Forgotten  !  thought  too  horrible  to  think  ! 

But  say,  believing  in  such  wo  to  come, 
Such  dreadful  certainty  of  endless  pain, 
Could  beings  of  forecasting  mould,  as  thou 
Entitles!  men,  deliberately  walk  on, 
Unscared,  and  overleap  their  own  belief 
Into  the  lake  of  ever  burning  fire  ? 

Thy  tone  of  asking  seems  to  make  reply. 
And  rightly  seems  :  They  did  not  so  believe. 
Not  one  of  all  thou  saw'st  lament  and  wail 
In  Tophet,  perfectly  believed  the  word 
Of  God,  else  none  had  thither  gone.    Absurd, 
To  think  that  beings  made  with  reason,  formed 
To  calculale,  compare,  choose,  and  reject. 
By  nature  taught,  and  self,  and  every  sense, 
To  choose  the  good  and  pass  the  evil  by. 
Could,  with  full  credence  of  a  time  to  come. 
When  all  the  wicked  should  be  really  damned, 
And  cast  beyond  the  spfiere  of  light  and  love, 
Have  perEevered  in  sin  !  Too  foolish  this 
For  folly  in  its  prime.    Can  aught  that  thinks, 


BOOK  VIII,  211 

And  wills,  choose  cerfaiD  evil  and  reject 
Good,  in  his  heart  believin?  he  does  so  ? 
Could  man  choose  pain,  instead  of  endless  joy  ? 
Mad  supposition,  though  maintained  by  some 
Of  honest  micd.    Behold  a  man  condemned  I 
Either  he  ne'er  inquired,  and  therefore  he 
Could  not  believe  ;  or  else  he  carelessly 
Inquired,  and  something  other  than  the  word 
Of  God  received  into  his  cheated  faith, 
And  therefore  he  did  not  believe,  but  down 
To  hell  descended,  leaning  on  a  lie. 

Faith  was  bewildered  much  by  men  who  meant 
To  make  it  clear — so  simple  in  itself  ; 
A  thought  so  rudimental  and  so  plain, 
That  none  by  comment  could  it  plainer  make. 
All  faith  was  one  :  In  object,  not  in  kind 
The  difference  lay.     The  faith  that  saved  a  soul, 
And  that  which  m  the  common  truth  believed. 
In  essence  were  the  same.  Hear  then  what  faith, 
True,  Christian  faith,  which  brought  salvation,  was: 
Belief  in  all  tha'  God  revealed  to  men  : 
Observe — in  all  that  God  revealed  to  men  ; 
In  all  he  promised,  threatened,  commanded,  said. 
Without  exception,  and  without  a  doubt. 
Who  thus  believed,  being  by  the  Spirit  touched. 
As  naturally  the  fruits  of  faith  produced — 
Truth,  temperance,  meekness,  holiness,  and  lovfr— 
As  human  eye  from  darkness  sought  the  light. 
How  could  he  else  ?     If  he  who  had  firm  faith 
The  morrow's  sun  should  rise,  ordered  affairs 
Accordingly  ;  if  he  who  had  firm  faith 
That  spring,  and  summer,  and  autumnal  day3 
Should  pass  away,  and  winter  really  come, 
Prepared  accordingly  ;  if  he  who  saw 
A  bolt  of  death  approaching,  turned  aside 
And  let  it  pass  ;  as  surely  did  the  man 
Who  verily  believed  the  word  of  God, 
Though  erring  whiles,  its  general  laws  obey, 
02 


212  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Turn  back  from  hell,  and  lake  the  way  to 

That  faith  was  necessary,  some  alleged, 
Unreigned  and  uncontrollable  by  will. 
Invention  savoring  much  of  teW  !     Indeed, 
It  was  the  masterstroke  of  wickedness, 
Last  effort  of  Abaddon's  council  dark, 
To  make  man  think  himself  a  slave  to  fate. 
And  worst  of  all,  a  slave  to  fate  in  faith. 
For  thus  'twas  reasoned  then  : — From  faith  alone, 
And  from  opmion.  springs  all  action  :  hence. 
If  faith's  compelled,  so  is  all  action  too  : 
But  deeds  compelled  are  not  accountable  ; 
So  man  is  not  amenable  to  God. 

Arguin?  that  brought  such  monstrous  birth,  thougb 
good 
It  seemed  must  have  been  false :  most  false  it  was, 
And  by  the  book  of  God  condemned  throughout. 
We  freely  own  that  truth,  when  set  before 
The  mind,  with  perfect  evidence,  compelled 
Be-lief  ;  but  error  lacked  such  witness  still. 
And  none  who  now  lament  in  m.ora!  night, 
The  word  of  God  refused  on  evidence 
That  might  not  have  been  set  aside,  as  false. 
To  reason,  try,  choose  and  reject,  was  free  : 
Hence  God,  by  faith,  acquitted,  or  condemned  ; 
Hence  righteous  men,  with  liberty  of  will 
Believed  ;  and  hence  thou  siw'st  in  Erebus, 
The  wicked,  who  as  freely  disbelieved 
What  else  had  led  them  to  thu  land  of  life. 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME, 


ANALTSaS  OF  BOOK  IX. 

An  apostrophe  to  Religion,  Virtue,  Piety  or  love  of 
Holiness. 

Description  of  several  classes  of  the  redeemed.  The 
faithful  minister,  the  true  philosopher,  the  righteous 
governor,  the  uncorrupted  statesman,  the  brave 
General,  the  man  of  active  benevolence  and  charity, 
the  Christian's  bard.  And  the  most  numerous  among 
the  saved  v^ere  such,  who  on  earth  were  eclipsed 
by  lowly  circumstances,  many  of  whom  were  seen 
"Highest  and  first  in  honour." 

Suddenly  an  innumerous  host  of  angels,  headed  by 
Michael  and  Gabriel,  descended  from  heaven,  si- 
lently and  without  song,  and  lifting  mankind  into 
mid  air,  parted  the  good  and  bad  ;  to  the  right  and 
left,  the  good  to  weep  no  more,  and  the  bad  never 
to  smile  again  ;  the  righteous  placed  "beneath  a 
crown  of  rosy  light,"  and  the  wicked  were  driven 
}>nd  bound  under  a  cloud  of  darkness,  where  stood 
also  Satan  and  his  legion,  awaiting  the  judgment  and 
puaisbmect  due  to  their  rebellion. 


itouxnt  ot  Wimt, 

BOOK  IX. 


J;  AIKEST  of  thwe  that  left  the  calm  of  heaven 

And  Tenlured  down  to  man.  with  words  of  peace, 

Daughter  of  Grace  !  known  by  whatever  name, 

Religion  !  Virtue  I  Pie'v  !  or  Love 

Of  Holinees  !  the  day  of  thy  reward 

Was  come.     Ah  !  thou  wast  Ion?  despised  :  despised 

Bv  those  thou  wooedst  from  deaih  to  endless  life, 

^lodest  and  meek,  in  garments  white  as  those 

That  seraph's  wear,  and  countenance  as  mild 

As  Mercy  looking  on  Repentance'  tear  ; 

With  eye  of  purity,  now  darted  up 

To  God's  eternal  throne,  now  humbly  bent 

Upon  thyself,  and  weeping  down  thy  cheek 

That  glowed  with  universal  love  immense, 

A  tear  pure  as  the  dews  that  fail  in  heaven  ; 

In  thy  left  hand,  the  olive  branch,  and  in 

Thy  right,  the  crown  of  immortality — 

With  noiseless  foot,  thou  walkedst  the  valea  of  earth, 

Beseeching  men  from  age  to  age,  to  turn 

From  utter  death — to  turn  from  wo  to  blise ; 

Beseeching  evermore,  and  evermore 

Despised — not  evermore  despised,  not  now, 

Not  at  the  day  of  doom  :  most  lovely  then, 


216  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Most  honorable  thou  appeared,  and  roost 

To  be  desired.    The  guilty  heard  the  song 

Of  thy  redeemed,  how  loud  !  and  saw  thy  face 

How  fair  !  Alas  !  it  was  too  late  !  the  hour 

Of  makiug  friends  was  past  ;  thy  favor  then 

Might  not  be  sought :  but  recollection,  sad 

And  accurate,  as  "miser  counting  o'er 

And  o'er  again  the  sum  he  must  layout, 

Distinctly  in  the  wicked's  ear,  retiearsed 

Each  opportunity  despised  and  lost ; 

While  on  them  gleamed  thy  holy  look,  that  like 

A  tiery  torrent  went  into  their  souls. 

The  day  of  thy  reward  was  come — the  day 

Of  great  remuneration  to  thy  friends  ; 

To  those,  known  by  whatever  name,  who  sought, 

In  ever)'  place,  in  every  time,  to  do 

Unfeignedly  their  Maker's  will  revealed. 

Or  gathered  else  from  nature's  school  ;  well  pleased 

"With  God's  applause  alone,  that,  like  a  stream 

Of  sweetest  melody,  at  still  of  night 

By  wanderer  heard,  in  their  most  secret  ear, 

Forever  whispered,  Peace  ;  and  as  a  string 

Of  kindred  tone  awoke,  their  inmost  soul. 

Responsive  answered.  Peace  ;  inquiring  still 

And  searching,  night  and  day,  to  know  their  duty, 

When  known,  with  undispu'ting  trust,  with  love 

Dnquenchable,  with  zeal,  by  reason's  lamp 

Inflamed — performing;  and  to  Him,  by  whose 

Profound,  all-calculating  skill  alone, 

Results— results  even  of  the  slightest  act, 

Are  fully  grasped,  with  unsuspicious  faith, 

All  consequences  leaving  :  to  abound 

Or  want  alike  prepared  ;  who  knew  to  be 

Exalted  how,  and  how  to  be  abased  ; 

How  best  to  live,  and  how  to  die  when  asked. 

Their  prayers  sincere,  their  alms  in  secret  done. 

Their  fightings  with  themselves,  their  ahstiuence 

From  pleasure,  Iho'  by  mortal  eye  unseen, 

Their  hearts  of  resignation  to  tbe  vrill 


BOOK  IX.  21 

Of  Heaven,  their  patient  bearing;  of  reproach 
And  shame,  their  charily,  and  faith,  and  hope,— 
Thou  didst  remember,  and  in  full  repaid. 
No  bankrupt  thou,  who  at  the  bargained  hour 
Of  payment  due,  sent  to  his  creditors 
A  tale  of  losses  and  mischances  long. 
Ensured  by  God  himself,  and  from  the  stores 
And  treasures  of  his  wealth  at  nill  supplied,— 
Religion,    thou  alone,  of  all  that  men, 
On  earth,  gave  credit,  to  be  reimbursed 
On  the  other  side  the  grave,  didst  keep  thy  word, 
Thy  day,  and  all  thy  promises  fulfilled. 

As  in  the  mind,  rich  with  unhorroTved  wealth, 
"Where  multiiudes  of  thoughts  for  utterance  strive, 
And  all  so  fair,  that  each  seems  worthy  first 
To  enter  on  the  tongue,  and  from  the  lips 
Have  passage  forth, — selection  hesitates, 
Perplexed,  and    loses  time  ;  anxious  since  all 
Cannot  be  taken,  to  take  the  best ;  and  yet 
Afraid,  lest  vhat  be  left  be  worthier  still  ; 
And  grieving  much,  where  all  so  goodly  look. 
To  leave  rejected  one,  cr  in  the  rear 
Let  any  bs  obscured  :  so  did  the  bard, 
Tho'  not  unskilled,  as  on  that  multitude 
Of  men,  who  once  awoke  to  judgment,  he 
Threw  back  reflection,  hesitating,  pause. 
For  on  his  harp,  in  tone  severe,  had  sung 
What  figure  the  most  famous  sinners  made, 
When  from  the  grave  they  rose  unmasked  ;  so  did 
He  wish  to  chara'cter  the  good  :  but  yet 
Among  so  many,  glorious  all,  all  worth 
Immortal  fame,  with  whom  begin,  with  whom 
To  end,  was  liifiBcult  to  choose  ;  and  long 
His  auditors,  upon  the  tiptoe  raised 
Of  expectation,  might  have  kept,  had  not 
His  eye — for  so  it  is  in  heaven,  that  what 
Is  needed  always  is  at  hand — beheld, 
That  moment,  on  a  mountain  near  the  fhroM 


218  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  God,  the  most  renowned  of  the  redeemed 
Rejoicing  ;  nor  who  first,  who  most  to  praise, 
Debated  more  ;  but  thus,  with  sweeter  note, 
Wei)  pleased  to  sing,  with  highest  eulogy, 
w&nd  first,  whom  God  applauded  most,— began. 

With  patient  ear,  thou  now  hast  heard,— tho'  whiles 
Aside  digressing,  ancient  feeling  turned 
My  lyre, — what  shame  the  wicked  had  that  day, 
What  wailing,  what  remorse  :  so  hear  in  brief, 
How  bold  the  righteous  stood — the  men  redeemed  ! 
How  fair  in  virtue  !  and  in  hope  how  glad  ! 
And  first  among  the  holy  shone,  as  best 
Became,  the  faithful  mmister  of  God. 

See  where  he  walks  on  yonder  mount,  that  lifts 
Its  summit  high,  oa  the  right  hand  of  bliss  1 
Sublime  in  glory  !  talking  wilh  his  peers 
Of  the  Incarnate  Saviour's  love,  and  past 
Affliction,  lost  in  present  joy  !  See  how 
His  face  wilh  heavenly  ardor  glows  !  and  how 
His  hand  enraptured,  strikes  the  golden  lyre  ! 
As  now  conversing  of  the  Lamb  once  slain, 
He  speaks  ;  and  now,  from  vines  that  never  hear 
Of  winter,  but  in  morthly  harvest  yield 
Their  fruit  abundantly,  he  plucks  the  grapes 
Of  life  !  but  what  he  was  on  earth  it  most 
Behoves  to  say  : — Elect  by  God  himself  ; 
Anointed    by  the  Holy  G  host,  and  set 
Apart  10  the  great  work  of  saving  men  ; 
Instructed  fully  in  the  will  divine  ; 
Supplied  with  grace  in  store,  as  need  might  ask  ; 
And  with  the  stamp  and  sienalure  of  heaven, 
Truth,  mercy,  patience,  holiness  and  love, 
Accredited  ; — he  was  a  man  by  God, 
The  Lord  commissioned  to  make  known  to  men, 
The  eternal  counsels  ;  in  his  Master's  name. 
To  treat  with  them  of  everlasting  things  ; 
Of  life,  death,  bliss,  and  wo  :  to  offer  termi 


BOOK  IX.  2 

Of  pardon,  ^ce,  and  peace,  to  the  rebelled ; 

To  teach  the  ignorant  soul ;  to  cheer  the  sad  ; 

To  bind,  to  loose  with  all  authority  ; 

To  give  the  feeble  strength,  the  hopeless  hope  ; 

To  help  the  hailing,  and  to  lead  the  blind  ; 

To  warn  the  careless  ;  heal  the  sick  of  heart ; 

Arouse  the  indolent  ;  and  on  the  proud 

And  obstinate  offender,  to  denounce 

The  wrath  of  Gc-d.     All  other  men,  what  name 

Soe'er  Ihey  bore,  whatever  office  held, 

If  lawful  held — the  magistrate  supreme, 

Or  else  subordinate,  were  chosen  by  men, 

Their  fellows,  and  from  men  derived  their  power, 

And  were  accountable  for  all  they  did 

To  men  ;  but  he  alone  his  office  held 

Immediately  from  God,  from  God  received 

Authority,  and  was  to  none  but  God 

Amenable.     The  elders  of  the  church, 

Indeed,  upso  him  laid  their  hands,  and  set 

Him  visibly  u«rt  to  preach  the  word 

Of  life  ;   but  mis  was  merely  outward  rite, 

And  decent  ceremonial,  performed 

(In  all  alike  ;  and  oft,  as  thou  hast  heard, 

Performed  on  those,  God  never  sent  :  tis  call. 

His  consecration,  his    anointing,  all 

Were  inward  ;  in  the  conscience  heard  and  felt. 

Thus  by  Jehovah  chosen  and  ordained. 

To  take  into  hi?  charge  the  souls  of  men  ; 

And  for  his  trust  to  answer  at  the  day 

Of  judgment— great  plenipotent  of  heaven, 

And  representative  of  Giid  on  eirth — 

Fearless  of  men  and  devils  ;  unabashed 

By  sin  enthroned,  or  mockery  of  a  prince ; 

Unawed  by  armed  legions  ;  unseduced 

By  offered'bribes  ;  burning  with  love  to  loala 

Unquenchable,  and  mindful  still  of  his 

Great  charge  and  vast  responsibility, — 

High  in  the  temple  of  the  living  God, 

He  stood,  amidst  the  people,  and  declared 


220  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Aloud  the  truth — the  whole  revealed  truth — 

Ready  to  seal  it  with  bis  blood.    Divine 

Resemblance  most  complete  !  with  mercy  now, 

And  love,  his  face  illumed,  shone  gloriously  ; 

And  frowning  now  indignantly,  it  seemed 

As  if  offended  Justice,  from  his  eye, 

Streamed  forth  vindictive  wrath !  Men  heard  alarmed: 

The  uncircumcised  infidel  believed  ; 

Light  thoughted  Mirth  grew  serious  and  wept; 

The  laugh  profane  sunk  in  a  sigh  of  deep 

Repentance  ;  the  blasphemer  kneeling,  prayed, 

And  prostrate  in  the  dust  for  mercy  called  ; 

And  cursed  old  forsaken  sinners  gnashed 

Their  teeth,  as  if  their  hour  had  been  arrived. 

Such  was  his  calling,  his  commission  such  : 

Yet  he  was  humble,  kind,  forgiving,  meek, 

Easy  to  be  entreated,  gracious,  mild" ; 

And  with  all  patience  and  aflfection,  taught, 

Rebuked,  persuaded,  solaced,  cnunselled,  warned, 

In  fervent  style  and  manner.     Needy,  poor, 

And  dying  men,  like  music,  heard  his  feet 

Approach  their  beds  ;  and  guilty  wretches  look 

New  hope,  and  in  his  prayers,  wept  and  smiled, 

And  blessed  hiui,  as  they  died  forgiven  ;  and  all 

Saw  in  his  face  contentment,  in  his  life, 

The  path  to  glorv  and  perpetual  joy. 

Deep  learned  in  the  philosophy  of  heaven. 

He  seaichedthe  causes  out  of  good  and  ill, 

Profoundly  calculating  their  effects 

Far  past  the  bounds  of  time  ;  and  balancing, 

Jn  the  arithmetic  of  future  things, 

The  loss  and  profit  of  the  soul  to  all 

Eternity.    A  skilful  workman  he. 

In  God's  great  moral  vineyard  ;  what  to  prune, 

With  cautious  hand,  he  knew  ;  what  to  uproot ; 

What  was  mere  weeds,  and  what  celestial  plants. 

Which  had  unfading  vigor  in  them,  knew  : 

Nor  knew  alone  ;  but  watched  them  night  and  day, 

And  reared  and  nourished  Ihem,  till  fit  to  be 


Transplanted  to  the  Paradise  above. 

0  !  who  can  speak  his  praise  !  great  humble  man 
He  in  the  curreu:  of  destruction  stood, 
And  warned  the  sinner  of  his  "o  ;  led  on 
Immanuel's  members  in  the  evil  day  ; 
And  with  the  everlasting  arms,  embraced 
Himself  around,  stnod  in  the  dreadful  front 
Of  Lattle,  high,  and  warred  victoriously 
With  death  and  hell.    And  now  was  come  his  rest, 
His  trkjmph  day  :  i'lustrious  like  a  son, 
In  that  assembly,  he,  shining  from  far. 
Most  excellent  in  glory,  stood  a-sured, — 
Wai'ing  the  promised  crown,  the  promised  throne, 
The  welcome  and  approval  of  his  Lord. 
Nor  one  alnne,  but  many — prophets,  priests, 
Apostles,  great  reformers,  all  that  served 
Messiah  faithfully,  like  stars,  appeared. 
Of  fairest  beam  ;  and  round  them  gathered,  clad 
In  white,  the  vouchers  of  their  minis'ry — 
The  flock    their  care  had  nourished,  fed,  and  saved. 

Nor  yet  In  common  glory   blszing  stood, 
The  true  philosopher,  decided  friend 
Of  truth  and  man  ;  determined  foe  of  all 
Deception, — calm,  collected,  patient,  wise. 
And  humble  ;  undeceived  by  outward  shape 
Of  things  ;  by  fashion's  revelry  uncharmed  ; 
By  honor  unbewitched  ; — he  left  the  chase 
Of  vanity,  and  all  the  quackeries 
Of  life  to  fonls  and  heroes,  or  whoe'er 
Desired  them  ;  and  with  reason,  much  despised, 
Traduced,  yet  heavenly  reason,  to  the  shade 
Retired — retired,  but  not  to  dream,  or  build 
Of  ghostly  fancies,  seen  in  the  deep  noon 
Of  sleep,  ill  balanced  theories  ;  retired. 
But  did  not  leave  mankind  ;  in  pity,  not 
In  wrath  retired  ;  and  still,  though  distant,  kepi 
His  eye  on  men  ;  at  proper  angle,  took 


222  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

His  stand  to  see  them  better,  and  beyond 
The  clamor  which  the  bells  of  folly  made, 
That  most  had  hung  about  them,  to  consult 
With  nature,  how  their  madness  mi?ht  be  cured 
And  how  their  true  substantial  cou.foris  might 
Be  multiplied.    Religious  man  1  what  God 
Bv  prophets,  priests,  evangelists,  revealed 
Of  sacred  truth,  he  thankfully  received. 
And,  by  its  light  directed,  went  in  search 
Of  more  :  before  him  darkness  fled  :  and  all 
The  goblin  tribe,  that  hung  upon  the  breasts 
Of  Night,  and  haunted  still  the  moral  gloom. 
With  shapeless  forms,  and  blue  infernal  lights, 
And  indistinct  and  devilish  whisperings, 
That  the  miseducated  fancies  vexed 
Of  superstitious  men, — at  his  approach, 
Dispersed,  invisible.     Where'er  he  went. 
This  lesson  still  he  taught,  to  fear  no  ill 
But  sin,  no  being  but  Almighty  God. 
All-comprehending  sage  !  too  hard  alone 
For  him,  was  man's  salvation  ;  all  besides, 
Of  Use  or  co.iifort,  that  distinction  made 
Between  the  desperate  savage,  scarcely  raised 
Above  the  beast  whose  flesh  he  ate  undressed, 
And  the  most  polished  of  the  human  race, 
Was  product  of  his  persevering  search. 
Religion  owed  him  much,  as  from  the  false 
She  suffered  much  ;  for  still  his  main  design, 
In  all  his  contemplations,  was  to  trace 
The  wisdom,  providence,  and  love  of  God, 
And  to  his  fellows,  less  observant,  show 
Them  forth.    From  prejudice  redeemed,  with  all 
His  passions  still,  above  the  common  world, 
Sublime  in  reason,  and  in  aim  sublime. 
He  sat,  and  on  the  marvellous  works  of  God, 
Sedately  thought  :  now  glan.ciog  up  his  eye 
Intelligent,  through  all  the  starry  dance  ; 
And  penetrating  now  the  deep  remote 
Of  central  causes,  in  the  womb  opaque 


BOOK  IX.  223 

Of  matter  hid  ;  now  with  inspection  nice. 
Entering  the  mystic  labyrinths  of  the  mind, 
Where  thought,  of  notice  ever-shy,  behind 
Thought  disappearing,  still  retired  ;  and  still, 
Thought  meeting  thought,  and  thought  awakening 

thought. 
And  mingling  still  with  thought,  in  endless  maze, — 
Bewildered  observation  :  now  with  eye. 
Yet  more  severely  purged,  looking  far  down 
Into  the  heart,  where  Passion  wove  a  web 
Of  thousand  thousand  threads,  in  grain  and  hue 
All  different  ;  then,  upward  venturing  whiles. 
But  reverently,  and  in  his  hand,  the  light 
Revealed,  near  the  eternal  throne,  he  gazed, 
Philosophizing  less  than  worshipping. 
Most  truly  great  !  his  intellectual  strength. 
And  knowledge  vast,  to  men  of  lesser  mind, 
Seemed  infinite  ;  yet  from  his  high  pursuits, 
And  reasonings  most  profound,  he  still  returned 
Home,  with  an  humbler  and  a  warmer  heart. 
And  none  so  lowly  bowed  before  his  God, 
As  none  so  well  His  awful  majesty 
And  goodness  comprehended  ;  or  so  well 
Hb  own  dependency  and  weakness  knev/. 

How  glorious  now  !  with  vision  purified 
At  the  Essential  Truth,  entirely  free 
From  error,  he,  investigating  s'till— 
For  knowledge  is  not  found,  unsought  in  heaven, — 
From  world  to  world  at  pleasure  roves,  on  wing 
Of  golden  ray  upborne  ;  or,  at  the  feet 
Of  heaven's  most  ancient  sases,  sitlin?,  hears 
New  wonders  of  the  wondrous  works  of  God. 

Illustrious  too,  that  mornin?,  stood  the  man 
Exalted  by  the  people,  to  the  throne 
Of  government,  established  on  the  base 
Of  justice,  liberty  and  equal  right : 
Who,  in  his  countenance  sublime,  erpreised 


224  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

A  nation's  majesty,  and  yet  was  meek 

And  humble  ;  and  in  royal  julace  gave 

Example  to  the  meanest,  of  ihe  fear 

Of  God,  and  all  integrity  of  life 

And  manners  ;  who,  aiigast,  yet  lowly  ;  who, 

Severe,  yet  gracious  ;  in  liis  veiy  heart 

Detesting  all  oppression,  all  intent 

Of  private  aggrandizement  ;  and  the  first 

In  every  public  duty, — held  the  scales 

Of  justice,  and  as  Ihe  law,  which  reigned  in  him, 

Commanded,  gave  rewards  ;  or  with  the  edge 

Vindictive,  smote, — now  light,  now  heavily, 

According  to  Ihe  stature  of  Ihe  crime. 

Conspicuous  like  an  oak  of  healthiest  bough, 

Deep  rooted  in  his  country's  love,  he  stood 

And  gave  his  hand  to  Virtue,  helping  up 

The  honest  man  to  honor  and  renown  ; 

And  with  the  look  which  goodness  wears  in  vrralh, 

Wiihering  the  very  blood  of  Knavery, 

And,  from"  his  presence,  driving  far  ashamed. 

Nor  le^s  remarkable  among  the  blest 
Appeared  the  man  who  in  the  senate-house. 
Watchful,  unhired,  unbribed,  and  uncorrupt, 
And  party  only  to  the  comninn  weal. 
In  virtue's  awful  rage,  pleaded  for  right. 
With  truth  so  clear,"  with  arsument  so  strong, 
With  action  so  sincere,  and  tone  so  loud 
And  deep,  as  made  the  despot  quake  behind 
His  adamantine  gales,  and  every  joint 
In  terror  smite  his  fellow-joint  relaxed  ; 
Or,  marching  to  the  field,  in  burnished  steel, 
While,  frowning  on  his  brow,  tremendous  hung 
The  wrath  of  a  whole  people  long  provoked, — 
Mustered  Ihe  stormy  wings  of  war,  in  day 
Of  dreadful  deeds  ;  and  led  Ihe  battle  on. 
When  liberty  swift  as  the  fires  of  heaven, 
lu  fury  rode  with  all  her  hosts,  and  threw 
The  tyrant  down,  or  drove  invasion  back. 


BOOK  IX.  026 

lUastrions  he — illustrioQs  all  appeared, 

Who  ruled  supreme  in  righteousness  ;  or  held 

Inferior  place  in  steadfast  reclitode 

Of  soul.    Peculiarly  severe  had  been 

The  nurture  of  their  youth  ;  their  knowledee  great ; 

Great  was  their  wisdom  ;  great  their  cares,  and  great 

Their  self  denial,  and  fhefr  service  done 

To  God  and  man  ;  and  great  was  their  reward, 

At  band,  proportioned  to  their  worthy  deeds. 

Breathe  all  thy  minstrelsy,  immortal  harp  ! 
Breathe  numbers  warm  with  love  !  while  I  rehearw, 
Delighted    theme  !  rtBembling  most  the  songs 
Which,  day  and  night,  are  sung  before  the  Lamb 
Thy  praise,  O  Charily  !  thy  labors  most 
Divine  ;  thy  sympathy  with  sighs,  and  tears, 
And  groans  ;  thv  great,  thy  god-like  wish,  to  heal 
All  misery,  all  fortune's  wounds  ;  and  make 
The  soul  of  every  living  thing  rejoice. 
0  thou  wast  needed  much  in  days  of  time  ! 
No  virtue,  half  so  much  ;  none'half  so  fair: 
To  all  the  rest,  however  fine,  thou  gavest 
A  finishing  and  polish,  without  which 
No  man  e'erentered  heaven.     Let  me  recnrd 
His  praise,— the  man  of  great  benevolence, 
Who  pressed  thee  closely  to  his  elowing  heart, 
And  to  thy  gentle  bidding,  made'his  feet 
S«  ift  minister.  —Of  all  mankind,  his  sold 
Was  most  in  harmony  with  heaven  :  as  one 
Sole  family  of  brothers,  sisters,  friends  ; 
One  in  their  origin,  one  in  their  rights 
To  all  the  comrrioii  gif's  of  providence. 
And  in  their  hopes,  their  joys  and  sorrows  one, 
He  viewed  the  universal  human  race. 
He  needed  not  a  law  of  state,  to  force 
Grudging  submission  to  the  law  o!  God  ; 
The  law  of  love  was  in  his  heart  alive  : 
What  he  possessed,  he  counted  not  his  own. 
But  like  a  faithful  steward,  in  a  house 
I' 


226  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  public  alms,  what  freely  he  received, 

He  freely  gave  ;  dislributineto  all 

The  helpless,  the  last  mite  beyond  his  own 

Temperate  support,  and  reckonings' ill  the  gift 

But  justice,  due  to  want  :  and  so  it  was  ; 

AUho'ihe  world,  wiih  compliment  not  ill 

Applied,  adorned  if  with  a  fairer  name. 

Nor  did  be  wait  till  to  his  door  the  voice 

Of  supplication  came,  but  went  abroad. 

With  foot  as  silent  as  the  starry  dews, 

In  search  of  misery  that  pined  unseen. 

And  would  cot  ask.  And  who  can  tell  what  sight* 

He  saw  !  what  groans  he  heard  in  thai  cold  world 

Below  !  where  Sin  in  league  with  gloomy  Death 

JIarched  daily  thro'  the  length  and  breadth  of  all 

The  land,  wasting  at  will,  and  making  earth, 

Fair  earth  !  a  lazer-house,  a  dungeon  dark  ; 

Where  Disappointment  fed  on  ruined  Hope  : 

Where  Guilt,  worn  out,  leaned  on  the  tripple  edge 

Of  want,  remorse,  despair  ;  where  Cruelty 

Reached  forth  a  cup  of  wormwood  to  the  lips 

Of  Sorrow,  tha'  to  deeper  s^rrow  wailed  : 

Where  Mockery,  and  Disease,  and  Poverty, 

Met  miserable  Age,  erewhile  sore  bent 

With  his  own  burden  ;  where  the  arrowy  winds 

Of  winter,  pierced  the  naked  orphan  bp.be, 

And  chilled  the  mother's  heart  who  had  no  home  ; 

And  where,  alas  !  in  mid-time  of  his  day, 

The  honest  man,  robbed  by  some  villain's  hand. 

Or  with  long  sickness  pale,  and  paler  yet 

With  want  and  hut  ger,  oft  drank  bitter  draughts 

Of  his  own  tears,  and  had  no  bread  lo  eat. 

Oh  !  who  can  tell  what  sigh's  he  saw,  what  shapes 

Of  wretchedness  !  or  who  describe  what  smiles 

Of  gratitude  illumed  the  face  of  wo, 

While  from  his  baud  he  gave  the  bounty  forth  ! 

As  when  the  sun.    to    Cancer  wheeling  back, 

Returned  from  Capricorn,  &  shewed  the  north, 

1'hat  Ions  had  lain  in  cold  and  cheerier  night, 


BOOK  IX.  227 

His  beamy  countenance  ;  all  nature  then 

Rejoiced  together  glad  ;  the  flower  looked  up 

And  smiled  ;   the  forest  from  his  locks  shoot  off 

The  hoar)'  frosts,  and  clapped  his  hands  ;  the  birds 

Awoke,  and  singing,  rose  to  meet  the  day  ; 

And  from  hi?  hollow  den,  where  many  monthB 

He  slumbered  sad  in  darkness,  blythe  and  light 

Of  heart  the  savage  sprung  ;  and  saw  again 

His  mountain  shine  ;  and  with  new  songs  of  love, 

Allured  the  virgin's  ear  :  so  did  the  house, 

The  prison  house  of  guil',  and  all  the  abodes 

Of  unprovided  helplessness,  revive, 

As  on  them  looked  the  sunny  messenger 

Of  Charily  ;  by  ansels  tended  still, 

That  marked  his  deeds,  and  wrote  them  in  the  book 

Of  God's  remembrance  :— careless  he  to  be 

Observed  of  men  ;  or  have  each  mite  bestowed, 

Recorded  punctually  with  name  and  place 

In  every  bill  of  news  :  pleased  to  do  good, 

He  gave  and  sought  no  more— nor  questioned  much, 

Nor  reasoned  wl.o  deserved  ;  for  well  he  knew 

The  face  of  need-    Ah  me  !  who  could  mistake  > 

The  shame  to  ask,  the  want  that  urged  within, 

Composed  a  look  so  perfectly  distinct 

From  all  else  human,  and  withal  so  full 

Of  misery,  that  none  could  pass  untouched 

And  be  a  Christian  ;  or  thereafrer  claim, 

In  any  form,  tbe  name  or  rights  of  man  ; 

Or,  at  the  day  of  judgment,  lift  his  eye  : 

While  he,  in  name  of  Christ,  who  gave  the  poor 

A  cup  of  water,  or  a  bit  of  bread. 

Impatient  for  his  advent,  waiting  stood. 

Glowing  in  robes  of  love  and  holiness. 

Heaven's  fairest  dress!  and  round  him  ranged  in  wllile, 

A  thousand  witnesses  appeared,  prepared 

To  tell  his  gracious  deeds  before  the  throne. 

Nor  unrenowned  among  the  most  renowned. 
Nor  'moDg  the  fairest  unadmired,  that  morn, 
r2 


228  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

When  highest  fame  was  proof  of  highest  worth, 

Distinguished  stood  the  bard  ; — not  he,  who  sold 

The  incommunicable  heavenly  gift, 

To  Folly  ;  and  with  lyre  of  perfect  tone. 

Prepared  by  God  himself,  for  holiest  praise. 

Vilest  of  traitors  1  most  dishonest  man  ! — 

Sat  by  the  door  of  Ruin,  and  made  there 

A  melody  so  sweet,  and  in  the  mouth 

Of  drunkenness  and  debauch,  that  else  had  croaked 

In  natural  discordance  jarring  harsh, — 

Put  so  divine  a  song,  that  many  turned 

Aside,  and  entered  in  undone  ;  and  thought 

Meanwhile  it  was  the  gate  of  heaven  ;  so  like 

An  angel's  voice  the  music  seemed  :  nor  he, 

Who  whining  grievously  of  damsel  coy, 

Or  blaming  fortune,  that  would  nothing  give 

For  doing  nought,  in  indolent  lament 

Unprofitable,  passed  his  pileousdays — 

Making  himself  the  hero  of  his  tale, 

Deserving  ill  the  poet's  name.     But  he. 

The  bard,  by  God's  own  baud  anointed,  who, 

To  Virtue's  all-delighting  harmony. 

His  numbers  tuned  ;  who  from  the  fount  of  truth, 

Poured  melody,  and  beauty  poured,  and  love, 

In  holy  stream,    into  the  human  heart ; 

And  from  the  height  of  lofty  argument. 

Who  justified  the  ways  of  God  to  man, 

And  sung,  what  still  he  sings— approved  m  heaven  ; 

Tho'now  with  bolder  note,  above  the  damp 

Terrestrial,  which  the  pure  celestial  fire 

Cooled,  and  restrained  in  part  his  flaming  wing. 

Philosophy  was  deemed  of  deeper  thought. 
And  iudgment  more  severe  than  Poetry  ; 
To  fable  she,  and  fancy  more  inclined. 
And  yet  if  Fancy,  as  was  understood, 
Was  of  creative'nature,  or  of  power. 
With  self-wrought  stuff  to  build  a  fabric  up, 
To  mortal  vision  wonderful  and  strange. 


BOOK  IX.  S2i 

Philotophy,  the  theoretic,  claimed 

Undoubtedly  the  first  and  highest  place 

In  Fancy's  favor  :  her  material  souls  ; 

Her  chance  ;  her  atoms  shaped  alike  ;  ber  wbits 

Proved  black  ;  ber  universal  nothing,  all; 

And  all  her  wondrous  systems,  how  the  mind 

With  niatter  met  ;  how  man  was  free,  and  yet 

All  preordained  ;  how  evil  first  began  ; 

And  chief,  her  speculations,  soaring  high 

Of  the  eternal  uncreated  mind. 

Which  left  all  reason  infinitely  far 

Behind — surprising  feat  of  theory  ! 

Were  pure  creation  of  her  own  ;  webs  wove 

Of  gossamer  in  Jrancy's  lightest  loom; 

And  DO  where  on  the  list  of  being  made 

By  God,  recorded  :  but  her  look  meanwhile 

Was  grave  and  studious  ;  and  many  thought 

She  reasoned  deeply,  when  she  wUdly  raved. 

The  true,  legitimate,  anointed  bard. 
Whose  song  thro'  ages  poured  its  melody, 
Was  most  severely  thoughtful,  most  minute 
And  accurate  of  obsenation,  most 
Familiarly  acquainted  with  all  modes 
And  phases  of  existence.     True,  no  doubt, 
He  bad  originally  drunk,  from  out 
The  fount  of  life  and  love,  a  double  draught. 
That  gave,  whaie'er  he  touched,  a  double  life. 
But  this  was  mere  desire  at  first,  and  power 
Devoid  of  means  to  work  by  ;  need  was  still 
Of  persevering,  nuick,  inspective  mood 
Of  mind,  of  faithful  memor>-,  vastly  stored 
From  universal  being's  ample  field, 
With  knowledge  ;  and  a  judgment  sound  and  dear, 
Well  discipline!  in  nature's  rules  of  taste  ; 
Discerning  to  select,  arrange,  combine, 
From  infinite  variety,  and  still 
To  nature  true  ;  and  guide  withal,  hard  ta^, 
The  sacred  living  impetus  divine, 
rs. 


230  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Discreetly  thro'  the  barmony  of  son?. 
Coinpleted  thus,  the  poet  sung  ;  and  age 
To  age  enraptured,  heard  his  measures  flow  ; 
Enraptured,  for  he  poured  the  very  fat 
And  marrow  of  exiistence  thro' his  verse  ; 
And  gave  the  soul — ihat  else  in  selfish  cold, 
Unsvarmed  by  kindred  interest,  had  Iain — 
A  roomy  life,  a  glowing  relish  high, 
A  sweet  expansive  brotherhood  of  being. — 
Joy  answerin?  jov,  and  sigh  responding  sigh. 
Thro'  all  the  fibres  of  the  social  heart. 
Observant,  sympathetic,  sound  of  head, 
Upon  the  ocean  vast  of  hunrjan  thought. 
With  passion  rouzh  and  stormy,  venturing  out 
Even  as  the  living  billows  rolled,  he  threw 
His  numbers  over  them,  seized  as  they  were, 
And  to  perpe'ual  azes  left  them  fixed, 
To  each  a  mirror  of  itself  displayed  ; 
Despair  for  ever  lowering  dark  on  Sin  ; 
And  Happiness  on  Virtue  smiling  fair. 

He  was  the  minister  of  fame  ;  and  gave 
To  whom  he  would  renown  ;  nor  missed  himself,— 
Altho'  despising  much  the  idiot  roar 
Of  popular  applause,  Ihat  sudden  oft 
Unnaturally  lurnins,  whom  it  nursed 
Itself,  devoured, — the  lasting  fame,  the  praise 
Of  God  and  holy  men,  to  excellence  given  : 
Yet  less  he  sousht  his  own  renown,  than  wished 
To  have  the  eternal  imases  of  truth 
And  beauty,  pictured  in  his  verse,  admired. 
■Twas  these,  taking  immortal  shape  and  form 
Beneath  his  eye,  tJiat  charmed  his  midnight  watch. 
And  oft  his  soul,  with  awful  transports,  shook, 
Of  happiness,  unfelt  by  other  men. 
This  was  Ihat  spell,  that  sorcery,  which  bound 
The  poet  to  the  lyre,  and  would  not  let 
Him  go  ;  that  bidden  mptery  of  joy. 
Which  made  him  sing  id  spite  of  fortune's  worst  ; 


p 


BOOK  IX.  S 

^Li  was,  at  once,  both  motive  and  reward. 

Nor  now  among  (he  choral  harps,  in  this 
he  native  clime  of  snng,  are  those  unknown, 
'ith  higher  note  ascending,  who,  below, 
'    ly  ardor,  aimed  at  lofty  strains. 

fame  is  never  lost  :  many,  whose  names 

Were  honored  mucli  on  earth,  are  famous  here 

For  poetry,  and  wiih  arch-angel  harps, 

Hold  no  unequal  rivalry  in  song  ; 

Leading  the  choirs  of  heaven,  in  numbers  high, 

Id  uuaibers  ever  sweet  and  ever  new. 

Behold  them  yonder,  where  the  river  pure 
Flows  warbling  down  before  the  thrnne  of  God, 
And  shading  on  each  side,  Ihe  tree  of  life 
Spreads  i's  unfading  boughs  I  see  how  they  shine, 
In  garments  white,  quaffing  deep  draughts  of  love  ; 
And  harping  on  their  harps  new  harmonies 
Preparing  for  the  ear  of  God,  Most  High ! 

But  why  should  T,  of  individual  worth, 
Of  individual  glory  longer  sing  ? 
No  true  believer  was  that  day  obscure  ; 
No  holy  soul  but  had  enough  of  joy  ; 
No  pious  wish  without  its  full  reward.  , 

Who  in  the  Father  and  the  Son  believed, 
With  faith  thai  wrought  by  love  to  holy  deeds, 
And  purified  tl.e  heart,  none  trembled  there, 
Nor  had  by  earthly  guise,  his  rank  concealed: 
Whether  unknown,  he  tilled  the  ground  remote, 
Observant  of  the  seasons,  and  adored 
God  in  the  promise  yearly  verified, 
Of  seedtime,  harvest,  summer,  winter,  day 
And  night,  returning  duly  at  the  time 
Appointed  :  or  on  the  shadowy  mouotam  side, 
Worshipped  at  dewy  eve,  watching  his  flocks  ; 
Or  treading,  saw  the  wonders  of  the  deep. 
And  as  the  needle  to  the  starry  pole, 


232  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Tnrned  ccnstantly,  so  he  his  heart  to  God  ; 
Or  else,  in  servitude  severe,  was  taught      ^ 
To  break  the  bonds  of  sin  ;  or  be;§iag,  letA^ 
To  trust  the  Providence,  that  fed  the  raven, 
And  clothed  the  lily  with  her  annual  g(»wn. 

Most  numerous  indeed,  among  the  saved, 
And  many  too,  not  least  illustrious,  shone, 
The  men  who  had  no  nameoo  earth  :  eclipsed 
By  lowly  circumstance,  they  lived  unknown  ; 
Like  stream  that  in  the  desert  warbles  clear, 
Still  nursing,  as  it  goes,  the  herb  and  flo«ver, 
Tho'  never  seen  ;  or  like  the  star  retin|di. 
In  solitudes  of  eth^r,  far  beyond  %,.  < 

All  sight,  not  of  essential  splendor  less, 
Tho'  shining  unobserved  :  none  saw  tljeir  puro 
Devotion,  none  their  tears,  their  faith,  and  love 
Which  burned  "ithin  them,  both  to  God  and  man 
None  saw  but  God.     He,  in  his  bottle,  all 
Their  tears  preserved,  and  every  holy  wi^ 
Wrote  in  his  book  ;  and  not  as  they  had  done, 
But  as  they  wished  with  all  their  heart  to  do, 
Arrayed  them  now  in  glory,  and  displayed, 
No  longer  hid  by  coarse  uncourtly  gartn- 
In  lustre  equal  to  their  inward  worth. 

Man's  time  was  past,  and  his  eternity 
Begun  !  no  fear  remained  of  change.    The  youth , 
Who,  in  the  glowing  morn  of  vigorous  life, 
High  reaching  after  great  religious  deeds, 
Was  suddenly  cut  off,  with  all  his  hopes 
In  sunny  bloom,  and  unaccomplished  left 
His  withered  aims, — saw  everlasting  days 
Before  him  dawning  rise,  in  which  to  achieva 
All  glorious  things,  and  get  himself  the  name 
That  jealous  death  too  soon  forbade  on  earth. 

Old  things  had  passed  away,  and  all  was  new 
And  yet  of  all  the  new-begun,  naught  so 


( 


BOOK  IX.  233 

jious  difference  made,  in  the  affairs 
'hoi^hts  of  every  man,  as  certainty. 
roT  doubt, 'all  doubt  was  gone,  of  every  kind  ; 
Dubt  that  eiewhile,  beneath  the  lowest  base 
■  mortal  reasonings,  deepest  laid,  crept  in, 
nd  made  thestroiigest,  best  cemented  lowers 
'human  workmanship,  so  weakly  shake, 
nd  to  their  lofty  tops,  so  waver  si  ill, 
That  those  who  built  ihem,  feared  their  sudden  falU 
But  doubt,  all  doubt  was  past  ;  and  in  its  place 
To  every  thought  that  in  the  heart  of  man 
Was  presen;,  now  had  come  an  absolute, 
Unqu  stiosa^  certaioty,  which  gave 
To  each  decision  of  the  mind,  immense 
Importance,  raising  to  its  proper  height 
The  sequent  tide  of  passion,  whether  joy, 
Or  grief.    The  good  man  knew  in  very  truth, 
That  he  was  saved  to  all  eternity. 
And  feared  no  more  ;  the  bad  had  proof  complete. 
That  he  was  damned  for  ever  ;  and  delieved 
Entirely,  that  on  every  wicked  soul 
Anguish  should  come,  and  wrath  and  utter  wo. 

Knowledge  was  much  increased,  but  wnsdom more. 
The  film  of  Time,  that  still  before  the  sight 
Of  mortal  vision  danced,  and  led  the  best 
Astray,  pursuing  unsubstantial  dreams, 
Had  dropped  from  every  eye  :  men  saw  that  they 
Had  vexed  themselves  in  vain,  to  understand 
■What  now  no  hope  to  understand,  remained  j 
That  thev  had  often  counted  evil  good. 
And  good  for  ill;laughed  when  they  should  have  wept; 
And  wept  forlorn  when  God  intended  mirth. 
Bui  what  of  all  their  follies  past,  surprised 
Them  most,  and  seemed  most  totally  insane 
And  unaccountable,  was  value  set 
On  objects  of  a  day ;  was  serious  grief. 
Or  joy,  for  loss,  or  eaia  of  mortal  things  : 
So  utterly  impossible  it  seemed, 


234  THE  CODKE  OF  TIME. 

\Vhen  men  their  proper  interests  saw,  that  aught 

Of  terminable  kind,  that  ausht,  which  e'er 

Could  die,  or  cea^e  to  be,  however  named, 

Should  make  a  human  soul— a  legal  heir 

Of  everlasting  years— rejoice,  or  weep  „ 

In  earnest  mood  ;  for  nothing  now  seemed  worth 

A  thought,  but  had  eternal  bearing  in't. 

Much  truth  had  been  assented  to  in  Time, 
Which  never,  till  this  day,  had  made  a  due 
Impression  on  the  heart.     Take  one  example  : 
Early  from  heaven  it  was  revealed,  and  oft 
Repeated  in  the  world,  from  pulpits  preached 
And  penned  and  rer.d  in  holy  bonks,  that  God 
Respected  not  lae  persons  of  mankind. 
Had  this  been  truly  creditedand  felt. 
The  king  in  purple  robe,  had  owned  indeed, 
The  beggar  for  his  brother  ;  pride  of  rank 
And  otiice,  thawed  into  paternal  love  ; 
Oppression  feared  the  day  of  equal  rights, 
Predicted  ;  covetous  extortion  kept 
In  mind  the  hour  of  reckonine,  soon  to  come  ; 
And  bribed  injustice  thought  of  being  judged, 
When  he  should  stand  on  equal  foot  beside 
The  man  he  wronged.    And  surely— nay,  'tis  true, 
Most  (rue,  beyond  all  whispering  of  doubt. 
That  he,  who  lifted  up  the  reeking  scourge, 
Dripping  with  gore  from  the  slave's  back,  before 
He  struck  again,  had  paused,  and  seriously 
Of  that  tribunal  thought,  where  God  himself 
Should  look  him  in  the  face,  and  ask  in  wrath. 
Why  didst  thou  this  ?  Man  !  was  he  not  thy  brother  ? 
Bone  of  thy  bone,  .ind  flesh  and  blood  of  thine  ? 
But  ah  !  this  truth,  by  heaven  and  reason  taught, 
Was  never  fully  credited  on  earth. 
The  tilled,  flattered,  lofty  men  of  power. 
Whose  n  ealth  bousht  verdicts  of  applause  for  deeds 
Of  wickedness,  could  ne'er  believe  the  lime 
Should  truly  come,  when  judgment  should  proceed 


BOOK  IX.  235 

y  Impartially  against  them,  and  they  too, 
Have  DO  good  speaker  at  the  judge's  ear  : 
Ko  witnesses  to  bring  them  off  for  gold  ; 
No  power  to  turn  the  sentence  from  its  course  ; 
i   And  they  of  low  estate,  wbosaw  ttiemselves, 
'    Day  after  day,  despised,  and  wronged,  and  mocked, 
Wilhout  redress,  could  scarcely  think,  the  day 
Should  e'er  arrive,  when  they  in  truth  should  stand 
On  perfect  level  with  the  potentates 
Ana  princes  of  the  earth,  and  have  their  cause 
Examined  fairly,  and  their  rights  allowed. 
But  now  this  truth  was  felt,  believed  and  felt, 
That  men  were  really  of  a  common  stock  ; 
That  no  man  ever  had  been  more  than  man. 

Much  prophecy — revealed  by  holy  hards, 
Who  sung  the  will  of  heaven  by  Judah's  streame, 
Much  prophecy  that  waited  long,  the  scoflf 
Of  lips  uncircumcised,  was  then  fulfilled  ; 
To  the  last  tittle  scrupulously  fulfilled. 
It  was  foretold  by  those  of  ancient  days, 
A  time  should  come,  when  wickedness  should  weep 
Abased  ;  when  every  lofty  look  of  man 
Should  be  bowed  down,  and  all  his  haughtiness 
Made  low  ;  when  righteousness  alone  should  lift 
The  head  in  glory,  and  rejoice  at  heart  ; 
When  many, "first  in  splendor  and  renown, 
Should  be  most  vile  ;  and  many,  lowest  once 
And  last  in  poverty's  obscurest  nook. 
Highest  and  first  in  honor,  should  be  seen 
Exalted  ;  and  when  some,  when  all  the  good, 
Should  rise  to  glory,  and  eternal  life  ; 
And  all  the  bad,  lamenting,  wake,  condemned 
To  shame,  contempt,  and  everlasting  grief. 

These  prophecies  had  tarried  long  ;  so  long 
That  many  wsgsed  the  head,  and  taunting  asked. 
When  shall  they  come  ?   But  asked  no  more,  nor 
mocked, 


236  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

for  the  reproach  of  prophecy  was  wiped 
Away,  and  every  word  of  God  found  true. 

And  0  !   what  change  of  state  !    what  change  of 
rank  ! 
In  that  assembly  every  where  was  seen  ! 
The  humble  hearted  laughed  ;  the  lofly  moanied  ; 
And  every  man  according  to  his  works 
Wrought  in  the  body,  there  look  character. 

Thus  stood  they  mixed  !  all  generations  stood 
Of  all  mankind  1  innumerable  throng  ! 
Great  harvest  of  the  grave  '.  waiting  the  will 
Of  Heaven,  attentively  and  silent  all, 
As  forest  spreading  out  beneath  the  calm 
Of  evening  skies,  when  even  the  single  leaf 
Is  heard  distinctly  rustle  down  and  fall  ; 
So  silent  tliey,  when  from  above,  the  sound 
Of  rapid  wheels  approached,  and  suddenly 
In  heaven  appeared  a  host  of  angels  strong. 
With  chariots  and  with  steeds  of  burning  fire  : 
Cherubj  and  Seraph,  Thrones,  Dominions,  Powers, 
Bright  in  celestial  armor,  dazzling,  rode: 
And  leading  in  the  front,  illustrious  shone 
Michael  and  Gabriel,  servants  long  approved 
In  high  commission, — girt  that  day  with  power 
Which  naught  created,  man,  or  devil,  might 
Rfisist  ;  nor  wailed  gazing  long  ;  but  quick 
Descending,  silently  and  without  song. 
As  servants  bent  to  do  their  master's  work, 
To  middle  air  they  raised  the  human  race, 
Above  the  path  long  travelled  by  the  sun  ; 
And  as  a  shepherd  from  the  sheep  divide* 
The  goats  ;  or  husbandman,  with  reaping  handl, 
In  harvest,  separates  the  precious  wheat. 
Selected  from  the  tares  ;  so  did  they  part 
Mankind, — the  good  and  bad,  to  right  and  left,— 
To  meet  no  more  ;  these  ne'er  again  to  smile  ; 
Nor  those  to  weep  ;  these  never  more  to  shars 


BOOK  IS.  237 

Society  of  mercy  with  the  saints  ; 

Nor  henceforth,  those  to  suffer  with  the  vile. 

Strange  parting  !  not  for  hours,  nor  days,  nor  monthSi 

Nor  for  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  years  ; 

But  for  a  whole  eternity  !  though  fit. 

And  pleasant  to  the  righteous,  yet  to  all 

Strange  !  and  most  strangely  felt  !     The  sire  to  right 

Reiirins,  saw  the  son,  sprur.g  from  his  loins, 

Beloved  how  dearly  once, — but  who  forgot 

Too  soon,  in  sin's  intoxicating  cup, 

The  father's  warnings  and  the  mother's  tears, — 

Fall  to  the  left  among  the  reprobate. 

And  son?  redeemed,  beheld  the  fathers,  whom 

They  loved  and  honored  once,  gathered  among 

The  wicked  :  brothers,  sisters,  kinsmen,  friends  ; 

Husband  and  wife,  who  ate  at  the  same  board, 

And  under  the  same  roof,  united  dwelt, 

From  youtl]  to  hoary  age,  bearing  the  chance 

And  change  of  time  tojether, — parted  then 

For  evemiore.    But  none  whose  friendship  grew 

From  virtue's  pure  and  everlasting  roof. 

Took  different  roads  —these,  knit  in  stricter  bonds 

Of  amity,  embracing,  saw  no  more 

Death  with  his  scythe  stand  by,  nor  heard  the  word, 

The  bitter  word,  which  closed  all  ear'hly  friendshipa. 

And  finished  every  feast  of  love, — Farewell. 

To  all  6'range  parting  ;  to  the  wicked,  sad 

And  terrible  :  new  horror  seized  them  while 

They  saw  the  saints  withdrawing,  and  with  them      ♦ 

Ail  hope  of  safety,  all  delay  of  wrath. 

Beneath  a  crown  of  rosy  light. — like  that 
Which  once  in  Goshen,  on  the  flocks,  and  herds, 
And  dwellings,  smiled  of  Jacob,  while  the  land 
Of  Nile  was  dark;  or  like  the  pillar  bright 
Of  sacred  fire,  that  stood  above  the  sons 
Of  Israel,  when  they  camped  at  midnight  by 
The  foot  of  Horeb,  or  ihe  desert  side 
Of  Sinai, — now  the  righteous  took  their  place, 


238  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

All  took  their  place  who  ever  wished  to  go 

To  heaven,  for  heaven's  own  sake  ;  not  one  remained 

Among  the  accursed,  that  e"er  desired  with  all 

The  heart  to  be  redeemed  ;  that  ever  sought 

Submissively  to  do  the  will  of  God, 

Howe'er  it  crossed  his  own  :  or  to  escape 

Hell,  for  ought  other  than  its  penal  fires. 

All  took  their  place  rejoicing,  and  beheld, 

In  centre  of  the  crown  of  golden  beams 

That  canopied  them  o'er,  these  gracious  wcrds, 

Blushing  wiih  tints  of  love  :  fear  not,  my  Eaintti. 

To  other  sight  of  horrible  dismay, 
Jehovah's  ministers,  the  wicked  drove, 
And  left  them  bound  immovable  in  chains 
Of  Justice  :  o'er  their  heads  a  bowless  cloud 
Of  indignation  hung  ;  a  cloud  it  was 
Of  thick  and  utter  darkness  ;  rolling  like 
An  ocean,  tides  of  livid,  pitchy  flame  ; 
With  thunders  charged  and  lightnings  ruinous. 
And  red  with  forked  vengeance,  such  as  wounds 
The  soul ;  and  fufl  of  angry  shapes  of  wrath  ; 
And  eddies,  whirling  wi'b  tumultuous  fire  .: 
And  forms  of  terror  raving  to  and  f-o  ; 
And  monsters,  unimagined  heretofoie 
By  guilty  men  in  dreams  before  their  death, 
From  horrid  to  more  horrid  changing  still, 
In  hideous  movement  through  that  s'ormy  gulph  ; 
And  evermore  the  thunders  murmuring  spoke 
From  out  the  darkness,  uttering  loud  these  words, 
"Which  every  guilty  conscience  echoed  back  : 
"  Ye  knew  your  duty,  but  ye  did  it  not.'' 
Dread  words !    that  barred  excuse,  and  thrffw  the 

weight 
Of  every  man's  perdition  on  himself 
Directly  home.     Dread    words !    heard    then,  and 

heard 
For  ever  through  the  wastes  of  Erebus. 
"  Ye  knew  your  duty,  but  ye  did  it  not !" 


BOOK  LX.  2S3 

These  were  the  words  which  flowed  upon  the  sword 
Whose  wrath  burned  fearfully  behind  the  cursed, 
As  they  were  driven  away  frora  God  to  Tophet. 
"Ye  knew  your  duty,  but  ye  did  it  not  !" 
These  are  the  words  to  which  the  harps  of  grief 
Are  sirung  ;  and  to  the  chorus  of  ihe  damned, 
The  rocks  of  hell  repeat  them  evermore  ; 
Loud  echoed  thro'  the  caverns  of  despair, 
And  poured  in  thunder  on  the  ear  of  Wo. 

Nor  ruined  men  alone,  beneath  that  cloud, 
Trembled  :  there  Satan  and  his  legions  stood  ; 
Satan,  the  first  and  eldest  sinner,  bound 
For  judsrment ;  he,  by  other  name,  held  once 
Conspicuous  rank  in  heaven  among  the  sons 
Of  happiness,  rejoicing  day  and  night  : 
But  pride  that  was  ashamed  to  bow  to  God 
Most  high,  his  bosom  filled  with  hate,  his  face 
Made  black  with  envy,  and  in  his  soul  begot 
Thoughts  guilty  of  rebtllion  'eainst  the  throne 
Of  the  Eternal  Father  and  the  Son,— 
From  everlasting  built  on  righteousness. 

Ask  not  how  pride  in  one  created  pure. 
Could  grow  ;  or  sin  without  example  spring. 
Where  holiness  alone  was  sown  :  esteem't 
Enough,  that  he,  as  every  being  made 
By  God,  was  made  entirely  holy,  had 
The  will  of  God  before  him  set  for  law 
And  regulation  of  his  life  ;  and  power 
To  do  as  bid  ;  but  was,  meantime,  left  free. 
To  prove  his  worth,  his  gratitude,  his  love  ; 
How  proved  besides  ?  for  how  could  service  done. 
That  might  not  else  have  been  withheld,  evince 
The  will  to  serve,  which,  rather  than  the  deed, 
God  doth  require,  and  virtue  counts  alone  ? 
To  stand  or  fall,  to  do  or  leave  undone, 
Is  reason's  lofty  privilege,  denied 
To  all  below,  by  instinct  bound  to  fate, 


240  THE  COURSE  OF  TINfE 

Umneriting  alike  reward  or  blame. 

Thus  free,  the  Devil  chose  to  disobey 
The  will  of  God  ;  and  was  thrown  out  from  heaven, 
And  with  him  all  his  bad  example  stained  : 
Yet  not  In  utter  punishment  decreed, 
But  left  to  fill  (he  measure  of  his  sin, 
In  tempting  and  seJucinenian  : — too  soon, 
Too  easily  seduced  !    And  frnm  the  day, 
He  first  set  foot  on  earth— of  rancor  full. 
And  pride,  and  hate,  and  malice,  and  revenge — 
He  set  himself,  with  most  felonious  aim, 
And  hellish  perseverance,  to  root  out 
All  good,  and  in  its  place  to  plant  all  ill  ; 
To  rub  and  raze,  from  all  created  things, 
The  fair  and  holy  portraiture  divine, 
And  on  them  to  enslamp  his  features  grim  ; 
To  draw  all  creatures  off  frr'm  loyalty 
To  their  Creator  ;  and  to  make  tliem  bow 
The  knee  to  him.     Nor  failed  of  great  succeis, 
As  populous  hell  this  day  can  testify. 
He  held  indeed  large  empire  in  the 'world. 
Contending  proudly  with  the  King  of  heaven. 
To  him  temples  were  built,  and  sacrifice 
Of  costly  blood  upon  his  altars  flowed  ; 
And,  what  best  pleased  him,  for  in  show  he  i 
Then  likesf  God,  whole  nations  bowing  fell 
Before  him,  worshippins,  and  from  h  s  lips 
Entreated  oracles,  which  he,  by  pries's, 
For  many  were  his  pries's  in  every  age. 
Answered,  though  guessing  bu' at  future  things, 
And  erring  of t,  yet  still  believed  ;  so  well 
His  ignorance,  in  ambiguous  phrase,  he  veiled. 

Nor  needs  it  wonder,  that  with  man  once  fallen. 
His  tempting  should  succeed.     Large  was  his  mind, 
And  understanding  ;  though  impaired  by  sin. 
Still  large  ;  and  constant  practice,  day  and  night, 
In  cunning,  guile,  and  all  hypocrisy, 


BOOK  IX.  SMI 

From  age  to  age,  gave  him  experience  vast 

Id  sin's  dark  tactic*,  such  as  boyish  man. 

Unarmed  by  strength  divine,  conld  ill  withstand. 

And  well  he  knew  bis  weaker  side  ;  and  still 

His  lures  with  baits  that  pleased  the  senses  busked  ; 

To  his  impatient  passions  offering  terms 

Of  present  joy,  and  bribing  reason's  eye 

With  earthly  wealth,  and  honors  near  at  hand  : 

Nor  failed  to  misadvise  his  future  hope 

And  faith,  by  false  unkerneled  promises 

Of  heavens  of  sensual  gluttony  and  love, 

That  suited  best  their  grosser 'appetites. 

Into  the  sinner's  heart,  who  lived  secure. 

And  feared  him  leait,  he  entered  at  his  will. 

But  chief  be  chose  his  residence  in  courts, 

And  conclaves,  stirring  princes  up  to  ads 

Of  blood  and  tyranny  ;  and  moving  priests 

To  barter  truth,  and  swap  the  souls  of  men 

For  lusty  benefices,  and  address 

Of  lofty  sounding  :  nor  the  saints  elect. 

Who  walked  with  God,  m  virtue's  path  sublime, 

Did  he  not  sometimes  venture  to  molest  ; 

In  dreams  and  moments  of  unguarded  thought, 

Suggesting  guilty  doubb  and  fears  that  God 

Would  disappoint  their  hope  ;  and  in  their  way 

Bestrewing  pleasures,  tongued  so  sweet,  and  so 

In  holy  garb  arrayed,  that  many  stooped, 

Believing  them  of  heavenly  sort,  and  fell  ; 

And  to  their  high  professions,  brought  disgrace 

And  scandal,  to  themselves,  thereafter,  long 

And  bitter  night  of  sore  repentance,  vexed 

With  shame,  unwonted  sorrow,  and  remorse. 

And  more  they  should  have  fallen,  and   more  have 

wept, 
Had  not  their  guardian  angels, — who,  by  Go;! 
Commissioned,  stood  beside  then:  in  the  hour 
Of  danger,  whether  craft,  or  (iiToe  attack. 
To  Satan's  deepest  skill  opposinj  ."kill 
More  deep,  and  to  his  stroi.'gifst  arin.  nn  arm 

a 


£42  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Morestrong, — npborne  them  in  their  bands,  and  filled 
Their  Eouli  with  all  discernment,  quick,  to  pierce 
His  stratagems  and  fairest  shows  of  sLn. 

Now  like  a  roaring  lion,  up  and  down 
The  world,  destroying,  though  unseen,  be  nLged  ; 
And  LOW,  retiring  back  to  Tartarus, 
Far  back,  beneath  the  thick  of  guiltiest  dark, 
Where  night  ne'er  heard  of  day,  in  council  grim 
He  sat  with  ministers  whose  thoughts  were  damned, 
And  tliere  such  plans  devised,  as,  had  not  God 
Checked  and  restrained,  bad  added  earth  entire 
To  hell,  and  uninhabited  left  heaven, 
Jehovah  uuadored.     Nor  unsevere 
Even  then,  his  punishment  deserved  :  the  Worm 
That  uever  dies,  coiled  in  his  bosom,  gnawed 
Perpetually  ;  sin  after  sin,  brought  pang 
Succeeding  pang  ;  and  now  and  then  ttic  bolts 
Of  Zion's  King,  vindictive,  smote  his  soul 
With  fiery  wo  to  blast  his  proud  designs  ; 
And  gave  him  earnest  of  the  wrath  to  come. 
And  chief,  when  on  the  cross,  Messiah  said, 
'Tis  finished,  did  the  edge  of  vengeance  smite 
Him  through,  and  all  his  gloomy  legions  touch 
With  rew  despair.     But  yet  to  te  the  first 
In  mischief,  to  have  armies  at  his  call, 
To  hold  dispute  with  God,  in  days  of  Time 
His  pride  and  malice,  fed,  and  bore  him  up 
Above  the  worst  of  ruin  :  s'ill  to  plan 
And  act  great  deeds,  though  wicked,  brought  at  least 
The  recompense  which  nature  hath  attached 
To  all  activity,  and  aim,  pursued 
With  perseverance,  good,  or  bad  ;  for  as, 
By  nature's  laws,  immutable  and  just, 
Enjoymen;  s'ops  where  indolence  begins  ; 
And  purposeless,  to-morrow  borrowing  sloth, 
Itself,  heaps  on  its  shoulders  loads  of  wo, 
Too  heavy  lo  be  borne  :  so  industry, — 
To  meditate,  to  plan,  resolve  perform. 


I300K  IX-  243 

Which  in  itself  is  good,  as  surely  brinejs 

Reward  of  good  no  matter  what  be  done : 

And  such  reward  the  Devil  had,  as  long 

As  the  decrees  eternal  gave  him  space 

To  work  :  but  now  ail  action  ceased  ;  his  hope 

Of  doing  evil  perished  quite  ;  bis  pride, 

His  courage,  failed  him  ;  and  beneath  that  cloud, 

Which  hung  its  central  terrors  o'er  his  head, 

With  all  his  angels,  he,  for  sentence,  stood. 

And  rolled  his  eyes  around,  that  uttered  guilt 

And  wo,  in  horrible  perfection  joined. 

As  he  had  been  the  chief  and  leader,  long, 

Of  the  apostate  crew  that  warred  with  God 

And  holiness  ;  so  now,  among  the  bad. 

Lowest  and  most  forlorn,  and  trembling  most, 

Wiih  all  iniquity  deformed  and  foul, 

With  all  perdition  ruinous  and  dark. 

He  stood, — example  awful  of  the  wrath 

Of  God  !  sad  mark,  to  which  all  sin  must  fall ! — 

And  made,  on  every  side,  so  black  a  hell, 

That  spirits,  used  to  night  and  misery. 

To  distance  drew,  and  looked  another  way  ; 

And  from  their  golden  cloud,  far  off,  the  saints 

Saw  round  him  darkness  grow  more  dark,  and  heard 

The  impatient  thunderbolts,  with  deadliest  crash, 

And  frequenlest,  break  o'er  his  heart,— the  sign, 

That  Satan  there,  the  vilest  sinner,  stood. 

Ah  me  !  what  eyes  there  were  beneath  that  clond  ; 
Eyes  of  despair,  final  and  certain  !  eyes 
That  looked,  and  looked,  and  saw,  where'er  they 

looked, 
Interminable  darkness  !  utter  wo  ! 

'Twas  pitiful  to  see  the  early  flower 
Nipped  by  the  unfeeling  frost,  just  when  it  rose, 
Lovely  in  youth,  and  put  its  beauties  on. 
Twas  pitiful  to  see  the  hopes  of  all 
The  year,  the  yeliow  harvest,  made  a  heap 


244  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

By  rains  of  judgment ;  or  by  torrents  swept, 
With  flocks  and  cattle  down  the  raging  flood  ; 
Or  scattered  by  the  winnowing  winds,  that  bore, 
Upon  their  angry  wings,  the  wrath  of  heaven. 
Sad  was  the  field,  where  yesterday  was  heard 
The  roar  of  war  ;  and  sad  the  sight  of  maid. 
Of  mother,  widow,  sister,  daughter,  wife. 
Stooping  and  weeping  over  senseless,  cold. 
Defaced,  and  mangled  lumps  of  breathless  earth. 
Which  had  been  husbands,  fathers,  brothers,  sons, 
And  lovers,  when  that  morning's  sun  srose. 
>Twas  sad  to  see  the  wonted  seat  of  friend 
Removed  by  death  :  and  sad  to  visit  scenes. 
When  old, 'where,  in  the  smiling  morn  of  life. 
Lived  many,  who  both  knew  and  loved  us  much, 
And  they  all  gone,  dead  or  dispersed  abroad  ; 
And  stranger  faces  seen  among  their  hills. 
'Twas  sad  to  see  the  little  orphan  babe 
Weeping  and  sobbing  on  its  mother's  grave. 
'Twas  pitiful  to  see  an  old,  forlorn. 
Decrepit,  withered  wretch,  unhoused,  unclad, 
Starving  to  death  with  poverty  and  cold. 
'Twas  pitiful  to  see  a  blooming  bride, 
That  promise  gave  of  many  a  happy  year, 
Touched  by  decay,  turn  pate,  and  waste,  and  die. 
'Twas  pitiful  to  hear  the  murderous  thrust 
Of  ruffian's  blade  that  sought  the  life  entire. 
'Twas  sad  to  hear  the  blood  come  gurgling  forth 
From  out  the  throat  of  the  wild  suicide. 
Sad  was  the  sight  of  widowed,  childless  age 
Weeping.     I  saw  it  once.     Wrinkled  with  time, 
And  hoar>'  with  the  dust  of  years,  an  old 
And  worthy  man  came  to  his  humble  roof. 
Tottering  a'nd  slow,  and  on  the  threshold  stood. 
No  foot,  no  voice,  was  heard  within  ;  none  came 
To  meet  him,  where  he  oft  had  met  a  wife, 
And  sons,  and  daughters,  glad  at  his  return  j 
None  came  to  meet  him  ;  for  that  day  had  seen 
The  old  man  lay,  within  the  narrow  house, 


BOOK  IX.  845 

The  last  of  all  bis  family  ;  and  now 
He  stood  in  solitude,  in  solitude 
Wide  as  the  world  ;  for  all  that  made  to  him 
Society,  had  fled  beyond  its  bounds. 
Wherever  strayed  bis  aimless  eye,  there  lay 
The  wreck  of  some  fond  hope,  that  touched  his  soul 
Wilb  bitter  thoughts,  and  told  him  all  was  past. 
His  lonely  cot  n  as  silent  ;  and  he  looked 
As  if  he  could  not  enter  ;  on  bis  staff 
Bending  he  leaned  ;  and  from  bis  weary  eye, 
Distressing  sight  !  a  single  tear-drop  wept : 
None  followed,  for  the  fount  of  tears  was  dry  j 
Alone  and  last  it  fell  from  wrinkle  down 
To  wrinkle,  till  it  lost  itself,  drunk  by 
The  withered  cheek,  on  which  again,  no  smile 
Should  come,  or  drop  of  tenderness  be  seen. 
This  sight  was  very  pitiful ;  but  one 
Was  sadder  still,  the  saddest  seen  in  Time  : 
A  man,  today,  the  glory  of  his  kind. 
In  reason  clear,  in  understanding  large. 
In  judgment  sound,  in  fancy  quick,  in  hope 
Abundant,  and  in  promise,  like  a  field 
Well  cultured,  and  refreshed  with  dews  from  God  ; 
To-morrow,  chained  and  raving  mad,  and  whipjied 
By  servile  bands  ;  sitting  on  dismal  straw 
And  gnashing  with  his  teeth  against  the  chain, 
The  iron  chain  that  bound  him  hand  and  foot ; 
And  trjing  whiles  to  send  his  glaring  eye 
Beyond  the  wide  circumference  of  his  wo  : 
OrJ  humbling  more,  more  miserable  still, 
Giving  an  idiot  laugh,  that  served  to  show 
The  blasted  scenery  of  bis  horrid  face  ; 
Calling  the  straw  his  sceptre,  and  the  stone, 
On  which  he  pinioned  sat,  his  royal  throne. 
Poor,  poor,  poor  man  !  fallen  far  below  the  brute  J 
His  reason  strove  in  vain,  to  find  her  way, 
Lost  in  the  stormy  desert  of  his  brain  ; 
And  being  active  still,  she  wrought  all  strange. 
Fantastic,  execrable,  monstrous  things. 
Q3 


ai6  THE  CODRSE  OF  TIME. 

All  these  were  sad,  and  tliousaDds  more,  that  sleep 
Forgotten  beneath  the  funeral  pall  of  Time  ; 
And  bards,  as  well  became,  bewailed  them  much. 
With  doleful  inslrnmeDis  of  weeping  song. 
But  what  were  these  ?  what  might  be  worse  had  in't 
However  small,  some  grains  of  happiness  : 
And  man  ne'er  dranlt  a  cup  of  earthly  sort, 
TTiat  might  not  held  another  drop  of  gall  ; 
Or,  in  his  deepest  sorrow,  laid  his  head 
Dpon  a  pillow  set  so  close  with  thorns, 
That  might  not  held  another  prickle  still. 
Accordingly,  the  saddest  human  look 
Had  hope  in't ;  faint  indeed,  bnt  still  'twas  hope. 
But  why  escuse  the  misery  of  earth  ? 
Say  it  was  dismal,  cold,  and  dark,  and  deep, 
Beyond  the  utterance  of  strongest  words  : 
But  say  that  none  remeinbereJ  it,  who  saw 
The  eye  of  beings  damned  forevermore  • 
Rolling,  and  rolling,  rolling  still  in  vain, 
To  find  some  ray  ;  to  see  beyond  the  gulph 
Of  an  unavenued,  fierce,  fiery,  hot, 
Interminable,  dark  Futurity  ! 
And  rolling  still,  and  rolling  still  in  vain  ! 

Thus  stood  the  reprobate  beneath  the  shade 
Of  terror,  and  beneath  the  crown  of  love. 
The  good  ;  and  there  was  silence  in  the  vault 
Of  heaven  :  and  as  they  etood  and  listened,  they  heard 
Afar  to  left  among  the  utter  dark. 
Hell  rolling  o'er  his  waves  of  burning  fire ; 
And  thondering  thro'  his  caverns,  empty  then, 
As  if  he  preparation  made,  to  act 
The  final  vengeance  of  the  Fiery  Lamb. 
And  there  was  heard,  coming  from  out  the  Pit, 
The  hollow  wailing  of  Eternal  Death, 
And  horrid  cry  of  the  undying  Worm. 

The  wicked  paler  turned  ;  and  scarce  the  good 
Their  color  Kept  ;  but  were  not  long  dismayed. 


BOOK  IX.  217 

That  moment,  in  the  heavens,  how  Tvondrous  fair  ! 

The  angel  of  Mercy  stood,  and,  on  the  bad. 

Turning  his  back,  over  the  raneomed  threw 

His  bow  bedropped  with  imagery  of  love, 

And  promises  on  which  their  faith  reclined. 

Throughout,  deep,  breathless  silence  reigned  again  : 

And  on  the  circuit  of  the  upper  spheres, 

A  glorious  seraph  stood,  and  cried  aloud. 

That  every  ear  of  man  and  devil  heard  : 

"Him  that  is  filthy,  let  be  filthy  still  ; 

"Him  that  is  holy,  let  be  holy  still." 

And  suddenly,  another  squadron  bright, 

or  high  arch-angel  glory,  stooping,  brought 

A  marvellous  bow  ;  one  base  upon  the  Cross, 

The  other  on  the  shoulder  of  the  Bear, 

They  placed,    from  south  to  north,    spanning   the 

heavens, 
And  on  each  hand  dividing  good  and  bad,— 
Who  read  on  either  tide  these  burning  words, 
Which  ran  along  the  arch  in  living  fire, 
And  wanted  not  to  be  believed  in  full  : 
"As  ye  have  sown,  so  shall  ye  reap  this  day." 


THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 


ANALYSIS  OF  BOOK  X. 

The  author  invokes  God,  for  acceptance,  and  the  as- 
sistance of  the  holy  spirit  ;  thai  he  may  failbfully 
interpret  the  notes  of  the  ancient  Bard,  "Ihe  holy 
numbers"  which  hi»  spirit  hears,  and  describes  Ihe 
Day  of  Judgment, 

Suddenly  Michael  sounds  the  golden  trumpet,  and 
millions,  infinite,  of  the  holy  spirits  gathered  from 
heaven  as  well  as  from  the  farthest  worlds  around, 
and  met  at  the  Eternal  throne,  and  from  a  radiant 
cloud,  God  declares  the  purpdse  of  the  assembly. — 
He  slates  the  destiny  of  man  is  concluded,  the  day 
of  Retribution,  appointed  from  all  eternity,  is  come, 
and  the  generations  of  earth  collected  to  the  place 
of  judgment. 

The  Father  infinite,  then  addresses  Ihe  Messiah,  and 
assigns  to  him  his  covenant,  cflBce  of  Judge.  The 
Son,  taking  the  book  of  remembrance,  Ihe  eeveo 
last  thunders,  the  crowns  of  life,  and  the  Sword  of 
Justice,  ascends  the  living  Chariot  of  God,  attended 
by  numbers  infinite,  moves  forward  in  glory,  be- 
comes visible  to  the  eons  of  men,  and  ascends  the 
Throne,  placed  between  the  good  and  bad. 

In  awful  silence  a  mighty  angel  spread  open  the  book 
of  God's  remembrance,  and  each  o.ne  with  sincere 
conscience  attests  the  record  true.  He  arose  to  pro- 
nounce the  sentence.  No  creature  breathed,  every 
sphere  and  star  stood  still  and  listened,  and  upon 
the  wicked  first  he  issued  the  dread  decree  ;  and 
plunged  the  sword,  which  now  be  drew,  mto  the 
uiidst  ;  they  sink  into  final  misery,  into  utter  dark- 
ness and  irremediablewo.  The  fire  then  consumed 
the  earth.  Lastly  the  righteous  received  the  crowns, 
and  a  joyous  approvai,  and  ascend  to  heaven  with 
Ihcir  jndse,  singing  glory  to  God  and  to  the  Lamb. 


BOOKX. 


Go 


roD  of  my  fathers  !  holy,  ju3t  and  good  '. 
My  God  !  my  Father  !  my  unfailing  hope  ! 
Jehovah  !  let  the  incense  "of  my  praise, 
Accepted,  burn  before  thy  mercy  seat, 
And  in  thy  presence  burn  both  day  aud  night. 
Maker  !  Preserver  !  my  Redeemer  !  God  ! 
Whom  have  I  in  the  heavens  but  Thee  alone  ? 
On  earth,   but  Thee,   whom  should  1  praise,    wlion 

love  ? 
For  thou  hast  bronght  me  hitherto,  upheld 
By  thy  omnipotence  ;  and  from  thy  grac^", 
Unbought,  unmerited,  though  not  unsought— 
The  wells  of  thy  salvation,  hast  refreshed 
My  spirit,  watering  it,  at  mom  and  even  ! 
And  by  thy  Spirit  which  thuu  freely  givest 
To  whom  thou  wilt,  hast  led  my  venturous  song, 
Over  the  vale,  and  mountain  tract,  the  light 
And  shade  of  man  ;  into  the  burning  deep 
Descending  now,  and  now  circling  the  mount, 
Where  highest  sits  Divinity  enthroned  ; 
Holling  along  the  tide  of  fluent  thought, 
The  tide  of  moral,  natural,  divine  ; 
Gazing  on  past,  and  present,  and  again. 
On  rapid  pinion  borne,  outstripping  Time, 
In  long  eicursion,  wandering  through  the  groves 
Unfading,  and  the  endless  avenues, 
That  shade  the  landscape  of  eternity 


252  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  talking  there  witli  holy  angels  met, 

And  future  men,  in  glorious  vision  seen  ! 

Nor  unrewarded  have  I  watched  at  nifht, 

And  heard  the  drowsy  sound  of  neightxiring sleep  J 

New  thought,  new  imagery,  new  scenes  of  bliss 

And  glory  unrehearsed  by  mortal  tongue, 

Which,  unrevealed,  I  trembling,  turned  and  left, 

Bursting  at  once  upon  my  ravished  eye, 

With  joy  unspeakable,  have  filled  my  soul, 

And  made  my  cup  run  over  with  delight ; 

Though  in  my  face,  the  bias's  of  adverse  winds, 

While  boldly  circumnavigating  man. 

Winds  seeming  adverse,  though  perhaps  not  so, 

Have  beat  severely  ;  disregarded  beat, 

When  I  behind  me  heard  "the  voice  of  God, 

And  his  propitious  Spirit  say, — Fear  not. 

God  of  my  fathers  !  ever  present  God  ! 
This  offering  more  inspire,  sustain,  accept ; 
Highest  if  numbers  answer  to  the  theme; 
Best  answering  if  thy  Spirit  dictate  most. 
Jehovah  !  breathe  upon  my  soul  ;  my  heart 
Enlarge;  my  faith  mcrease  ;  increase  my  hope  ; 
My  thoughts  exalt ;  my  fancy  sanctify, 
Atid  all  my  passions,  that  I  near  thy  throne 
May  venture,  unreproved  ;  and  sing  the  day, 
Which  none  vmholy  ought  to  name," the  Day 
Of  Judgment ;  greatest  day,  past  or  to  come  ; 
Day,  which — deny  me  what  thoo  wilt  ;  deny 
Me  home,  or  friend,  or  honorable  name — 
Thy  mercy  grant,  I  thoroughly  prepared, 
With  comely  garment  of  redeeming  love. 
May  meet,  and  have  my  Judge  for  Advocate. 

Come  gracious  Influence  !  Breath  of  the  Lord  ! 
And  touch  me  trembling,  as  thou  touched  the  man, 
Greatly  beloved,  when  he  in  vision  saw, 
By  Ulai's  stream,  the  Ancient  sit ;  and  talked 
With  Gabriel,  to  his  prayer  swif'.ly  sent. 


BOOK  X.  253 

At  evening  sacrifice.    Hold  my  right  hand, 

Almighty !  hear  me  for  I  ask  through  Him , 

Whom  thou  hast  heard,  whom  thou  shall  always  hear 

Thy  son,  our  interceding  Great  High  Priest.  ' 

Reveal  the  future  ;  lei  the  years  to  come 

Pass  by  ;  and  open  my  ear  to  hear  the  harp  ; 

The  prophet  harp,  whose  wisdom  I  repeat, 

Interpreting  the  voice  of  distant  song, — 

Which  thus  again  resumes  »he  lofty  verse  ; 

Loftiest  if  I  interpret  faithfully 

The  holy  numbers  which  my  spirit  hears. 

Thus  came  the  day,  the  Harp  again  began, 
The  day  that  many  thought  should  never  come  ; 
That  all  the  wicked  wished  should  never  come; 
That  all  the  righteous  had  expected  long. 
Day  greatly  feared,  and  yet  too  little  feared, 
By  him  who  feared  it  most  ;  day  laughed  at  much 
By  the  profane  ;  the  trembling  day  of  all 
Who  laughed  ;  day  when  all  shadows  passed,  all 

dreams  ; 
When  substance,  when  reality  commenced. 
Last  day  of  lying,  final  day  of  all 
Deceit,  all  knavery,  all  quackish  phrase  ; 
Ender  of  all  disputing,  of  all  mirth 
Ungodly,  of  all  loud  and  boasting  speech. 
Judge  of  all  Judgments  ;  Judge  of  every  judge  ; 
Adjuster  of  all  causes,  rights  and  wrongs. 
Day  oft  appealed  to,  and  appealed  to  oft, 
By  those  who  saw  its  dawn  with  saddest  heart. 
Day  most  magnificent  in  fancy's  range, 
Whence  she  returned,  confounded,  trembling,  pale. 
With  overmuch  of  glory  faint  and  blind. 
Day  most  important  held,  prepared  for  most, 
P.y'every  rational,  wise,  and  holy  man. 
Day  of  elernal  gain,  for  worldly  loss  ; 
Day  of  eternal  loss,  for  worldly  gain. 
Great  day  of  terror,  vengeance,  wo,  despair  • 
Revcaler  of  all  secrets  thoughts,  desires  ! 


254  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Reiii-tryiDg,  heart-investigaling  day, 

Which  stood  betwixt  Eternity  and  Time, 

Reviewed  all  past,  determined  all  to  come, 

And  bound  all  drstinies  for  evermore. 

Believing  day  of  unbelief!  Great  day  ! 

Which  set  in  proper  lie^t  the  affairs  of  earth, 

And  justified  the  government  Divine. 

Great  day !  what  can  we  more  )  what  should  we  more  ? 

Great  triumph  day  of  God's  Incarnate  Son  ! 

Great  day  of  glory  to  the  Almighty  God  ! 

Day  when  the  everlasting  years  begin 

Their  date  !  new  era  in  eternity  ! 

And  oft  referred  to  in  the  song  of  heaven! 

Thus  stood  the  spostate,  thus  the  ransomed  stood  ; 
Those  held  by  justice  fast,  and  these  by  love, 
Reading  the  fiery  scutcheonry,  that  blazed 
On  high,  upon  the  great  celestial  bow  : — 
"As  ve  have  sown,  so  shall  ye  reap  this  day." 
All  read,  all  understood,  and  all  believed  ; 
Convinced  of  judgment,  righteousness  and  sin. 

Meantime  the  universe  throughont  was  still  : 
1  he  cope,  above  and  round  atout  was  calm  ; 
And  motionless  beneath  them  lay  the  earth. 
Silent  and  sad,  as  one  that  sentence  waits. 
For  flagrant  crime  :  when  suddenly  was  heard, 
Behind" the  azure  vaulting  of  the  sky, 
Ab-.ve,  and  far  remote  from  reach  of  sight. 
The  sound  of  trumpets,  and  the  sound  of  crowds, 
And  prancing  steeds,  and  rapid  chariot  wheels. 
That  from  four  quarters  rolled,  and  seemed  in  baste, 
AssPHiblineat  some  place  oS  rendezvous  ; 
And  so  they  seemed  to  roll,  with  furious  speed, 
As  if  none  meant  to  be  behind  the  first. 
Nor  seemed  alone  :  ;bat  day  the  golden  trump, 
VVhose  voire,  from  centre  to  circumference 
Of  all  (relied  thmgs,  is  heard  distinct, 


BOOK  X.  255 

God  had  bid  Micliael  sound,  to  sumnion  all 

The  hosts  of  bliss  to  presence  of  their  King  : 

And  all  the  moruin?,  millions  infinite, 

That  naillions  governed  each,  Dominions,  Poweis, 

Thrones,  Principalities,  with  all  their  hosts. 

Had  been  arrivin?  near  the  capital, 

And  royal  city,  New  Jerusalem, 

Prom  heaven's  remotest  bounds  :  nor  yet  from  heaven 

Alone,  came  they  that  day  :  the  worlds  around, 

Or  neighboring  nearest  on  the  verge  of  night, 

Emptied,  sent  forth  their  whole  inhabitants  : 

All  tribes  of  being  came  of  every  name. 

From  every  coast,  filling  Jehovah's  courts. 

From  morn  till  mid-day,  in  the  squadrons  poured 

Immense,  along  the  bright  celestial  roads. 

Swiftly  they  rode  ;  for  love  unspeakable 

To  God,  and  to  Messiah,  Prince  of  peace, 

Drew  them,  and  made  obedience  haste  to  be 

Approved.  And  now  before  the  Eternal  Throne— 

Erigh'er  that  day  than  when  the  Son  prepared 

To  overthrow  (he  serjphim  rebelled — 

And  circling  round  the  mount  of  Deity, 

Upon  the  sea  of  glass  all  round  about. 

And  down  the  borders  of  the  stream  of  life, 

And  over  all  the  plains  of  Paradise, 

For  manyaleagueof  heavenly  measurement,— 

Assembled  stood  the  immortal  multitudes, 

Millions  atrave  ail  number  infinitCj 

The  nations  of  the  blest.     Distinguished  each. 

By  chief  of  goodly  stature  blazing  far. 

By  various  garb,  and  flag  of  various  hue 

Streaming  through  heaven  from  standard  lifted  bigh, 

The  arms  and  imagery  of  thousand  worlds. 

Distinguished  each';  but  all  arrayed  complete, 

In  armor  bright,  of  helmet,  shield,  and  sword  ; 

And  mounted  all  in  chariots  of  fire. 

A  military  throng,  blent,  not  confused  : 

As  soldiers  on  some  day  of  great  review, 

Burning  in  splendor  of  refulgent  gold. 


266  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Aud  ornament  on  purpose  long  devMed 
for  this  expected  day.    Distingoished  each, 
But  all  accoutred  as  became  their  Lord, 
And  high  occasion  all  in  holiness, 
The  livery  of  the  soldiery  of  God, 
Vested  ;  and  shinin?  all  with  perfect  bliss. 
The  wages  which  his  faithful  seryants  win. 

Thus  stood  they  numberless  around  the  mount 
Of  presence  ;  and  adoring,  waited,  hushed 
In  deepest  silence,  for  the  voice  of  God. 
That  moment,  all  the  Sacred  Hill  on  high 
Burned,  terribly  with  glory,  and,  behind 
The  uncreated  lustre,  hid  the  Lamb, 
Invisible  ;  when,  from  the  radiant  cloud, 
This  voice,  addressing  all  the  hosts  of  heaven, 
Proceeded  ;  not  in  words  as  we  converse, 
Each  with  his  fellow,  but  in  language  such 
As  God  doth  use,  imparting  without  phrase 
Successive,  what  in  speech  of  creatures,  seems 
Long  narrative,  tho'  long,  yet  loosing  much, 
In  feeble  symbols,  of  the  thought  Divine. 

My  servants  long  approved,  my  faithful  sons  ! 
Anzels  of  glnry,  Thrunes,  Dominions,  Powers  ! 
AVell  pleased,  this  morning,  I  have  seen  the  speed 
Of  your  oDedience,  galhermg  round  my  throne. 
In  order  due,  as  well  becoming  garb  ; 
Illustrious,  as  I  see,  beyond  your  wont, 
As  was  my  wish,  to  glorify  this  day. 
And  now  what  your  assembling  means,  attend. 

This  day  concludes  the  destiny  of  man  • 
The  hour,  appointed  from  eternity, 
To  judge  the  earth,  in  righteousness,  is  come  ; 
To  end' the  war  of  Sin,  that  long  has  fought, 
Permitted,  against  the  sword  of  Holiness  ; 
To  give  to  men  and  devils,  as  their  works 
Recorded  in  ray  all-remembering  boob. 


BOOK  X.  m 

I  find  ;  good  to  the  good,  and  great  reward 
Of  everlasting  honor,  joy  and  peace. 
Before  my  presence  here,  for  evermore  : 
And  to  the  evil  as  their  sins  provoke, 
E'ernal  recompense  of  shame  and  wo, 
Cast  out  beyond  the  bounds  of  light  and  love. 

Long  have  I  stood,  as  ye,  my  sons,  well  know, 
Between  the  cherubim,  and  stretched  my  arms 
Of  mercy  out,  inviting  all  to  come 
To  me,  and  live  ;  my  towels  long  have  moved 
With  great  compassion  ;  and  my  justice  passed 
Transgression  by,  and  not  imputed  sin. 
Long  here,  upon  my  everlasting  throne, 
1  have  beheld  my  love  and  mercy  scorned  ; 
Have  seen  my  laws  despised,  my  name  blasphemed, 
My  providence  accused,  my  gracious  plans 
Opposed  ;  and  long,  too  long,  hsve  I  beheld 
The  wicked  triumph,  and  my  saints  reproached 
Maliciously,  while  on  my  altars  lie. 
Unanswered  still,  their  prayers  and  their  fears, 
Wh.ch  seek  my  coming,  wearied  with  delay  : 
And  lone.  Disorder  in  my  moral  reign 
Has  walked  rebelliously,  disturbed  the  peace 
Of  my  eternal  government,  and  wrought 
Confusion,  spreading  far  and  wide,  among 
My  works  inferior,  which  groan  to  be 
Releasal.    Nor  long  shall  groan  :  the  hour  of  grace. 
The  final  hour  of  grace  is  fully  past. 
The  lime  accepted  tor  repentance,  faith, 
And  pardon,  is  irrevocably  past  ; 
And  Justice  unaccompanied,  as  wont. 
With  Mercy,  now  goes  forth,  to  give  to  all 
According  to  their  deeds.    Justice  alone  ; 
For  why  should  Mercy  any  more  be  joined  ? 
What  hath  not  mercy,' mixed  with  jodgment,  done, 
That  mercy,  mixed  with  judgment  and  reproof, 
Could  do  ?  Did  I  not  revelation  make, 
Plainly  and  clearly,  of  my  will  entire  ? 
R 


258  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Before  Ihem  set  my  holy  law,  and  gave 

Them  kuowledge,  wisdom,  prowess,  to  obey, 

And  win,  by  self-wrought  works,  eternal  life  ? 

Rebelled,  did  I  not  send  Ihem  terms  of  peace. 

Which,  not  my  justice,  but  my  mercy  asked  ? — 

Terms  cosllyto  my  well-beloved  Son  ; 

To  them  gratuitous,  exactinj  faith 

Alone  for  pardon,  works  evincing  faith  ? 

Have  I  not  early  risen,  and  sent  my  seers. 

Prophets,  apostles,  teachers,  ministers, 

With  si^ns  and  wonders,  working  in  my  name  ? 

Have  I  not  still,  from  age  to  age,  raised  up, 

As  I  saw  needful,  greatj'religious  men, 

Gifted  by  me  with  lat^e  capacity, 

And  by  my  arm  omnipotent  upheld. 

To  pour  the  numbers  of  my  mercy  forth, 

And  roll  my  judgments  on  the  ear  of  man  ? 

And  lastly,  when  the  promised  hour  was  come, 

What  more  could  most  abundant  mercy  do  ? 

Did  I  not  send  Iromanuel  forth,  my  Son, 

Only  begotten,  to  purchase,  by  his  blood, 

As  many  as  believed  upon  his  name  ? 

Did  he  not  die  to  give   repentance,  such 

As  I  accept,  and  pardon  of  all  sins  ? 

Has  he  not  taught,  beseeched,  and  shed  abroad 

The  Spirit  unconfined,  and  given  at  times. 

Example  fierce  of  wralh  and  judgment  poured 

VinJictive  on  nations  guilty  long  ? 

What  means  of  reformation  that  my  Son  , 

Has  left  behind  untried  ?  what  plainer  words. 

What  arguments  more  strons,  as  yet  remain  ? 

Did  he  not  tell  them  with  his'lips  of  truth, — 

The  righteous  should  be  saved,  the  wicked,  damned  ? 

And  has  he  not,  awake  both  day  and  night, 

Here  interceded  with  prevailing  voice, 

At  ray  right  hand,  pleading  his  precious  blood 

Which  magnified  my  holy  law,  and  bought. 

For  all  who  wished,  perpetual  righteousness  ? 

And  have  not  you,  my  faithful  servants,  all 


BOOK  X.  2£ 

Been  frequent  forth,  obedient  to  my  wUl, 
With  mess3(ge3  of  mercy  and  of  love, 
Administeriu?  my  gifts  to  sinful  man  ? 
And  have  not  all  my  mercy,  all  my  love, 
Been  sealed  and  stamped  with  signature  of  heaven 
By  proof  of  wonders,  miracles,  and  signs 
Attested,  and  attested  more  by  truth 
Divine,  inherent  in  the  tidings  sent  ? 
This  day  declares  the  consequence  of  all. 
Some  have  believed,  are  sanctified,  and  saved, 
Prepared  for  dwelling  in  this  holy  place. 
In  these  their  mansions,  built  before  my  face  : 
And  now  beneath  a  crown  of  golden  light, 
Beyond  our  wall,  at  place  of  judgment,  they, 
Expecting,  wait  the  promised  due  reward. 
The  others  stand  with  Satan  bound  id  chains  ; 
The  others,  who  refused  to  be  redeemed, — 
Thev  stand,  unsanctified,  unpardoned,  sad, 
Waiting  the  sentei^ce  that  shall  fii  their  wo. 
The  others  who  refused  to  be  redeemed  ; 
For  all  had  grace  sufficient  to  believe, 
All  who  my  gospel  heard  ;  and  none  who  heard 
It  not,  shall  by  its  law  this  day  be  tried. 
Necessity  of  sinning,  my  decrees 
Imposed  on  none  ;  but  rather  all  inclined 
To  holiness  ;  and  grace  was  bountiful. 
Abundant,  overflowing  with  my  word  ; 
My  word  of  life  and  peace,  which  to  all  men 
Who  shall  or  stand  or  fall  by  law  revealed, 
Was  offered  freely,  as  'twas  freely  sent. 
Without  all  money,  and  without  all  price. 
Thus,  they  have  all  by  wiilins  act.  despised 
Me,  and  my  Son,  and' sanctifying  Spirit. 
But  now  no  longer  shall  they  mock  or  scorn  ; 
The  day  of  Gra'ce  and  Mercy  is  complete. 
And  Godhead  from  their  miserj^  absolved. 

So  saying.  He,  the  Father  infinite, 
Turning,  addressed  Messiah,  where  he  sat 
R2 


EGO  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Exalted  gloriously,  at  his  right  hand. 

This  day  belongs  to  justice,  and  to  Thee, 

Eternal  Son  !  thy  right  for  service  done. 

Abundantly  fulfilling  all  my  will  ; 

By  promise  thine,  from  all  eternity. 

Made  in  the  ancient  Covenant  of  Grace  ; 

And  thine,  as  most  befitting,  since  in  thee 

Divine  and  human  meet,  impartial  judge. 

Consulting  thus  Ihe  interest  of  both. 

Go  then,  my  Son,  divine  similitude  '. 

Image  express  of  Deity  unseen  ! 

The  book  of  my  remembrance  take ;  and  take 

The  golden  crowns  of  life,  due  to  the  saints; 

And  take  the  seven  last  thunders  ruinous  ; 

Thy  armor  take  ;  gird  on  thy  sword,  thy  sword 

Of  justice  ultimate,  reserved,  till  now 

Unsheathed,  in  the  eternal  armory  ; 

And  mount  the  living  chariot  of  God. 

Thou  goest  not  now,  as  once  to  Calvary, 

To  be  insulted, buffeted, and  slain  : 

Thou  goest  not  now  with  battle,  and  the  voice 

Of  war,  as  once  against  the  rebel  hosts  ; 

Thou  goest  a  Judee,  and  find'st  the  guilty  bound  : 

Thou  goest  to  prove,  condemn,  acquit,  reward  ; 

Not  unaccompanied  ;  all  these,  my  saints. 

Go  with  thee,  glorious  retinue  I  to  sing 

Thy  triumph,  and  participate  thy  joy  ; 

And  I,  the  Omnipresent,  with  thee  go  ; 

And  with  thee,  all  the  glory  of  my  throne. 

Thus  said  the  Father  ;  and  the  Son  beloved, 
Omnipotent,  Omniscient.  Fellow  God, 
Arose  resplendent  with  Divinity  ; 
And  He  the  book  of  God's  reme'mbrance  took ; 
And  took  the  seven  last  thunders  ruinoin  ; 
And  took  the  crowns  of  life,  due  to  the  saints  ; 
His  armor  took  ;  girt  on  his  sword,  his  sword 
Of  justice  ultimate,  reserved,  till  now 
Unsheathed,  in  the  eternal  armory  ; 


And  up  the  living;  chariot  of  God 
Ascended,  signifying  all  complete. 

And  now  the  Trump  of  wondrous  uielody, 
By  man  or  ansel  never  heard  before, 
Sounded  with  thunder,  and  the  march  began. 
Not  swift,  as  cavalcade,  on  battle  bent, 
But,  as  became  procession  of  a  judge, 
Solemn,  magnificent,  majestic,  slow  ; 
Moving  sublime  with  glory  infinite. 
And  numbers  infinite,  and  awful  song. 
They  passed  the  gate  of  heaven,  which  many  a  league. 
Opened  either  way,  to  let  the  glory  forth 
Of  Ihis  great  march.    And  cow,  the  sons  of  men 
Beheld  their  coming,  which,  before  they  heard  ; 
Beheld  Ihe  glorious  countenance  of  God  ! 
All  light  was  swallowed  up,  all  objects  seen, 
Faded  ;  and  the  Incarnate,  visible 
Alone,  held  every  eye  upon  Him  fixed  I 
The  wicked  saw  his  majesty  severe. 
And  those  who  pierced  Hini,  saw  his  face  with  clouds 
Of  glory  circled  round,  essential  brieht  ! 
And  to  the  rocks  and  mountains  called  in  vain 
To  hide  them  from  the  fierceness  of  his  wrath  : 
Almighty  power  that  flight  restrained,  and  held 
Them  bound  immovable  before  the  bar. 

The  righteous,  undismayed  ind  bold — best  proof 
This  day  of  fortitude  sincere — sustained 
By  inward  faiih,  with  acclamations  loud, 
Received  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man  ; 
And  drawn  by  love,  inclined  to  his  approach, 
Moving  to  meet  the  brightness  of  his  face. 

Meantime,  'tween  good  and  bad,  the  Judge,  bis 
wheels 
Stayed,  and,  ascending,  sat  upon  the  great 
White  Throne,  that  mornicg  founded  there  by  power 
Omnipotent,  and  built  on  righteousness 
R3 


262  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

And  truth.    Behind,  before,  on  every  side, 
Jn  native,  and  reflected  blaze  of  bright 
Celestial  equipage,  the  myriads  stood. 
That  with  his  marching  came  ;  rank  above  rank, 
Rank  above  rank,  with  shield  and  flaming  sword. 

'Twas  silence  all  :  and  quick,  on  right  and  left, 
A  mighty  angel  spread  Ihe  book  of  GoJ's 
Remembrance  ;  and,  with  conscience,  now  sincere, 
All  men  compared  the  record  written  there, 
By  finger  of  Omniscience,  and  received 
Their  sentence,  in  themselves,  of  joy  or  wo, 
Condemned  or  justified,  while  yet  the  Judge, 
Wailed,  as  if  to  let  them  prove  themselves. 
The  righteous,  in  the  book  of  life  displayed. 
Rejoicing  read  their  names  ;  rejoicing  read 
Their  faith  forrighteousness  received, and  deeds 
Of  holiness,  as  proof  of  faith  complete. 
The  wicked,  in  the  book  of  endless  death, 
Spread  out  to  left,  bewailing  read  their  names  ; 
And  read  beneath  them.  Unbelief,  and  frnit 
Of  Unbeliet,  vile,  unrepented  deeds, 
Now  unrepentable  for  evermore  ; 
And  gave  approval  of  the  wo  aflTuted. 

This  done,  the  Omnipotent,  Omniscient  Jadge, 
Rose  infinite,  the  sentence  to  pronounce  j 
The  sentence  of  eternal  wo  or  bliss  ! 
All  glory  heretofore  seen  or  conceived  ; 
All  majesty,  annihilated,  dropped 
That  moment,  from  remembrance,  and  was  lost ; 
And  silence,  deepest  hitherto  esteemed. 
Seemed  noisy  to  the  stillness  of  this  hour. 
Comparisons  I  seek  not  ;  nor  should  find. 
If  sought  :  that  silence,  which  all  being  held. 
When  God's  Almighty  Son,  from  off  the  walls 
Of  heaven  the  rebel  angels  threw,  accursed, 
So  still,  that  all  creation  heard  their  fall 
Distinctly,  in  the  lake  of  burning  fire, 


BOOK  X.  Sfi3 

Was  now  forgotten,  and  every  silence  else. 
All  being  rational,  created  then, 
Around  the  judgment  seat,  intensely  listened  ; 
No  creature  breathed  :  man,  angel,  devil,  stood, 
And  listened  ;  the  spheres  stood  still,  and  every  (tar 
Stood  still  and  listened  ;  and  every  particle 
Remotest  in  the  womb  of  matter  stood, 
Bending  lo  hear,  devotional  and  still. 
And  thus  upon  the  wicked  first,  the  Judge 
Pronounced  the  sentence,  written  before  of  old ; 
••Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  the  fire 
Prepared  eternal  in  the  Gulph  of  Hell, 
Where  ye  shall  weep  and  wail  for  evermore; 
Reaping  the  harvest  which  your  sins  have  sown,'' 

So  saying,  Gfxi  grew  dark  with  utter  wrath  j 
And  drawing  now  the  sword,  undrawn  before. 
Which  tbrnugh  the  range  of  infinite,  all  round 
A  gleam  of  fiery  indignation  threw, 
He  lifted  up  his  hand  omnipotent. 
And  down  among  the  damned  the  burning  edge 
Plunged  ;  and  from  forth  his  arrowy  quiver  sent, 
Emptied,  the  seven  last  thunders  ruinous, 
Which,  entering,  withered  all  their  souls  with  fire. 
Then  first  was  vengeance,  first  was  ruin  seen 
Red,  unrestrained,  vindictive,  final,  fierce. 
They  howling  fled  lo  west  among  the  dark; 
But  fled  not  these  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  : 
Pursued  and  driven  beyond  the  Gulph,  which  frowns 
Impassable,  between  the  good  and  bad. 
And  downward  far  remote  to  left,  oppressed 
And  scorched  with  the  avenging  fires,  begua 
Burning  within  them, — they  upon  the  verge 
Of  Erebus,  a  moment,  pausing  stood, 
And  saw,  below,  the  unfathomable  lake. 
Tossing  Willi  tides  of  dark,  tempestuous  wrath  ; 
And  would  have  looked  behind  ;  but  greater  wrath. 
Behind,  forbade,  which  now  no  respite  gave 
To  final  misery  ;  God,  m  the  grasp 


264  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Of  his  Almighty  strength,  took  them  upraised, 

And  threw  them  down,  into  the  yawning  pit 

Of  bottomless  perdition,  mined,  damned. 

Fast  bound  in  chaits  of  darkness  evermore  ; 

And  Second  Death,  and  the  undying  Worm, 

Opening  their  horrid  jaws  with  hideous  yell, 

Falling,  received  their  everlasting  prey. 

A  groan  returned,  as  down  they  sunk,  and  sunk, 

And  ever  sunk  among  the  utter  dark  ! 

A  groan  returned  !  the  righteous  heard  the  groan  ; 

Tbe  groan  of  all  the  reprobate,  when  first 

They  felt  damnation  sure  !  and  heard  Hell  close  I 

And  heard  Jehovah,  and  his  love  retire  ! 

A  groan  returned  !  tbe  righteous  beard  tbe  groan  i 

As  if  all  misery,  all  sorrow,  grief. 

All  pain,  all  anguish,  all  despair,  which  all 

Have  suffered,  or  shall  feel,  from  first  to  last 

Eternity,  had  gathered  to  one  pang. 

And  issued  in  one  groan  of  boundless  wo  ! 

And  now  the  wall  of  hell,  the  outer  wall, 
First  gateless  then,ctosed  round  them;  that  which  thon 
Hast  seen  of  fiery  adamant,  emblazed 
With  hideous  imagery,  above  all  hope, 
Above  all  flight  of  fancy,  burning  high  ; 
And  euarded  evermore,'  by  Justice,  turned 
To  Wrath,  that  hears,  unmoved,  the  endless  groan 
Of  those,  wasting  within  ;  and  sees,  unmoved, 
The  endless  tear  of  vain  repentance  fall. 

Nor  ask  if  these  shall  ever  be  redeemed. 
They  never  shall  :  not  God,  but  their  own  sin 
Condemns  them  :  what  could   be  done,  as  thou  hast 

heard, 
Has  been  already  done  ;  all  has  been  tried, 
That  wisdom  infinite,  and  boundless  grace, 
Working  together  could  devise,  and  all 
Has  failed  ;  why  now  succceed  f  Though  God  should 

stoop, 


BOOK  X.  28 

Inviting  still,  and  send  his  Only  Son 
To  offer  grace  in  hell,  the  pride  that  first 
Refused,  would  still  refuse  ;  the  unbelief 
Still   unbelieving,  would  deride  and  mock  ; 
Nay  more,  refuse,  deride,  and  mock  ;  for  sin 
Increasing  still,  and  growing  day  and  night 
Into  the  essence  of  the  soul,  become 
All  sin,  makes  what  in  time  seemed  probable, 
Seemed  probable,  since  God  invited  then — 
Forever  now  impossible.     Thus  they. 
According  to  the  eternal  laws  which  bihd 
All  crealures,  bind  the  Uncreated  One, 
Though  we  name  not  the  sentence  of  the  Judge — 
Must  daily  grow  in  sin  and  punishment. 
Made  by  themselves  their  necessary  lot, 
Unchangeable  to  all  eternity. 

What  lot !  what  choice  !  I  sing  not,  cannot  sing. 
Here,  highest  seraphs  tremble  on  the  lyre. 
And  make  a  sudden  pause  !  but  thou  hast  seen. 
And  nere,  the  bard,  a  moment,  held  hia  baud, 
As  one  who  saw  more  of  that  horrid  wo 
Than  words  could  utter ;  and  again  resumed. 

Nor  yet  had  vengeance  done.     The  guilty  Earth, 
Inanimate,  debased,  and  stained  by  sin, 
Seat  of  rebellion,  of  corruption,  long. 
And  tainted  with  mortality  thrcughout, 
God  sentenced  next ;  and  pent  the  final  fires 
Of  ruin  forth,  to  burn  and  to  destroy. 
The  saints  its  burning  saw  ;  and  thou  mays!  see. 
Look  yonder  round  the  lofty  golden  walls 
And  gaP.eries  of  New  Jerusalem, 
Among  the  imagery  of  wonders  past ; 
Look  near  the  southern  gale  ;  look,  and  behold. 
On  spacious  canvass,  touched  with  living  hues,— 
The  conflagration  of  the  ancient  earth, 
The  handiwork  of  high  arch-angel,  drawn 
From  meiuory  of  what  he  savif  that  day. 


266  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

See  how  the  tnountains,  how  the  valleys  burn  ! 
The  Andes  burn,  Ihe  Alps,  the  Appenines  ; 
Taurus  and  Atlas,  all  the  islands  bum  ; 
The  Ocean  burns,  and  rolls  his  waves  of  flame. 
See  how  the  li^htnines,  barbed,  red  with  wrath, 
Sent  from  the  quiver  of  Omnipotence, 
Cross  and  recross  the  fiery  sloom,  and  bum 
Into  the  centre  '.  bum  without,  witbin, 
And  help  the  native  fixes,  which  God  awoke, 
And  kindled  with  the  fury  of  his  wrath. 
As  inly  troubled,  now  she  seems  to  shake  ; 
The  flames,  dividing,  now  a  moment,  fall  ; 
And  now  in  one  conglomerated  mass. 
Rising,  they  glow  on  high,  prodigious  blaze ! 
Then  fall  and  sink  again,  as  if  within, 
The  fuel,  burnt  to  ashes,  was  consumed. 
So  burned  the  earth  upon  that  dreadful  day, 
Yet  not  to  full  annihilation  burned  : 
The  essential  particles  of  dust  remained, 
Purged  by  the  final,  sanctifying  fires. 
From  all  corruption  ;  from  all  slain  of  sin, 
Pone  there  by  man  or  devil,  purified. 
The  essential  particles  remained,  of  which 
God  built  the  world  again,  renewed,  improved, 
With  fertile  vale,  and  wood  of  iertile  bough  ; 
And  streams  of  milk  and  honey,  flowing  song  ; 
And  mountains  cinctured  wiih  perpetual  green; 
In  clime  and  season  fruitful,  as  at  first. 
When  Adam  woke,  unfallen,  in  paradise. 
And  God,  from  out  Ihe  fount  of  native  light, 
A  handful  took  of  beams,  and  clad  the  sun 
Again  in  glory  ;  and  sent  forth  the  moon 
To  borrow  thence  her  wonted  rays,  and  lead 
Her  stars,  the  virgin  daughters  of  the  sky. 
And  God  revived ^he  winds,  revived  the  tides  ; 
And  touching  her  from  his  Almighty  hand, 
With  force  centrifugal,  she  onward  ran. 
Coursing  her  wonted  path,  to  stop  no  more. 
Delightful  scene  of  new  inhabitants ; 


As  thou,  this  morn,  in  passing  hither,  saw. 

Thus  done,  the  glorious  Ju  'ge,  turning  to  right, 
With  countenance  of  love  unspeakable, 
Beheld  the  righteous,  and  approved  them  thus. 
"Ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  come,  ye  just, 
Enter  the  joy  eternal  of  your  Lord  ; 
Receive  your  crowns,  ascend,  and  sit  with  Me, 
At  God's' right  hand,  in  glory  evermore." 

Thus  said  the  Omnipotent,  Incarnate  God  : 
.And  waited  not  the  homage  of  the  crowns. 
Already  thrown  before  hira  ;  nor  the  loud 
Amen  of  universal  holy  praise  ; 
But  turned  the  living  chariot  of  fire, 
And  swifter  now — as  joyful  to  declare 
This  day's  proceedings  in  his  Father's  court, 
And  to  present  the  number  of  his  sons 
Before  the  throne — ascended  up  to  heaven. 
And  all  his  saints,  and  all  his  angel  bands, 
As  glorious  they  on  high  ascended,  sung 
Glory  to  God,  and  to  the  Lamb  !  they  sung 
Messiah,  fairer  than  the  sons  of  men. 
And  altogether  lovely.     Grace  is  p'^ured 
Into  thy  lips,  above  all  measure  poured  ; 
And  therefore  God  hath  blessed  thee  evermore. 
Gird,  gird  thy  sword  upon  thy  thigh,  0  thou 
Most  Mighty  !  with  thy  glory  ride  ;  with  all 
Thy  majesty,  ride  prosperously,  because 
Of  meekness,  truth,  and  righteousness.     Thy  throne, 
O  God,  for  ever  and  for  ever  stands  ; 
The  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom  still  is  right : 
Therefore  hath  God,  thy  God,  anointed  Thee, 
With  oil  of  gladness  and  perfumes  of  myrrh, 
Out  of  the  ivory  palaces,  above 
Thy  fellows,  crowned  the  prince  of  endless  peace. 

Thus  sung  they  God,  their  Saviour  ;  and  themselves, 
Prepared  complete  to  enter  now  with  Christ, 


263  THE  COURSE  OF  TIME. 

Their  living  head,  into  the  Holy  Place. 
Behold  the  daughter  of  the  King,  the  bride, 
All  glorious  within,  the  bride  adorned, 
Comely  in  broidery  of  gold  !  behold. 
She  comes,  apparelled  royally,  in  robes 
Of  perfect  righteousness  ;'fair  as  the  sun  ; 
With  all  her  virgins,  her  companions  fair  ; 
Into  the  Palace  of  the  King  she  comes  ! 
She  comes  to  dwell  fur  evermore  !  awake, 
Eternal  harps  !  awake,  awake,  and  sing  ! 
The  Lord,  the  Lord,  our  God  Almighty,  reigns  ! 

Thus  the  Messiah,  with  the  hosts  of  bliss, 
Eu'ered  the  gates  of  heaven— unquestioned  now— 
Which  closed  behind  them,  to  go  out  no  more, 
And  stood  accepted  in  his  Father's  sight ; 
Before  the  glorious  everlasting  throne. 
Presenting  all  his  saints  ;  not  one  was  lost, 
Of  all  that  he  in  Covenant  received  : 
And  having  given  the  kingdom  up,  he  sat, 
Where  now  be  sits,  and  reigns,  on  the  right  band 
Of  glory ;  and  our  God  is  all  in  alU 

,Thu3  liave  I  sung  beyond  thy  first  request, 
Rolling  my  numbers  o'er  the  track  of  man, 
The  world  at  dawn,  at  mid-day  and  decline  ; 
Time  gone,  the  righteous  saved,  the  wicked  damned 
And  God's  eternal  government  approved. 


INDEX. 


Actions  done,  never  recalled, 
Advocate,  the  faithless,    - 
A?e,  old,  childish. 
Ambition,  •  • 

Amusements,  innocent.    • 

. — ,  criminal, 

Angels,  separating  righteous  and 


Antiquary, 

Apostacy, 

Apostrophe  to  Earth,      - 

Trees  and  Flowers, 

. Death.      - 

Bigotry,    - 

Ocean, 

•  —  Religion,  - 

Assembly  for  Judgment, 

Atonement, 

Author,  supposed  allusion  tc 

Babylon,  fall  of  mvstical, 
Bard  of  Earth,     • 
Battle,  field  of.    - 
in  Hanionab's  vale, 


Page 

.  107 

149 ;  202 

-  244 

-  145 
.  118 

-  148 
.  236 
.  262 

-  191 
.  29 
.  141 

-  172 
.  171 
.  193 
.  178 
.  213 
.  187 
.  31 


.  132 

.  20 

.  244 

-  164 


Page 


Be?gar, 

. 

97 

Bible,  its  divinity  and  doctrines, 

. 

SI 

37 

Bigotry,               .... 

193 

Book  of  God's  remembrance,      • 

262 

Books  of  Time. 

• 

91 

Bow,  appearing  at  Judgment,    - 

• 

247 

Byron,  description  of,     . 

• 

lOO 

Caravan,              .... 

. 

75 

Causes  of  Irreligion, 

. 

44 

Ceriainty,  affecting  joy  and  grief  at  Judgment, 

233 

Character  of  man. 

35 

Charity,  praises  of, 

225 

Christ,  his  Incarnation  and  Death, 

31 

,  appearing  as  Judge, 

260 

Christian,  his  contest,     ... 

87 

Counsellor,  the  faithful, 

224 

Creation  of  Earth, 

27 
28 

Critics,                .... 

209 

Daughters  of  Beauty       • 

Dead  raised,          .... 

143 

167 

Death,  apostrophe  to,       • 

181 

,  phantoms  in  den  of, 

183 

. ,  ansel  of,              ... 

175 

, the  Second, 

18 

,264 

Disappointment, 

75 

Distribution  of  worldly  goods. 

96 

intellect,  - 

98 

Dreams,              .... 

123 

Duellist.              .... 

202 

Duty,  source  of  happiness. 

110 

Earth,  signs  presaging  destruction  of,    • 

150 

,  burnt  at  judgment, 

• ,  renewed. 

263 
266 

Eden,       - 
Envy, 

,  subject  of,  in  hell, 
Epicure,    - 
Eteruily,  scieoce  o( 


Fair  one,  vain,    . 

,  ruined, 

Faith,  character  and  eflfects  of, 

I'alsehood,  man  of, 

Fame, 

,  votary  of,  at  Resurrection 

Fancy,  active  in  sleep,     - 
Fashion,  woman  of, 
Fear,  n.arring  Pleasure,  - 
Fisherman, 
Friendship, 

Gabriel,  leading  the  angels, 
God,  no  respecter  of  persons 

,  i'idressing  the  worlds  at  Judgment, 

Gos,  with  enemies  of  saints, 
Gold,  pursuit  of,  - 
Grief,       . 


Hamonah,  vale  of. 
Happiness,  desire  of, 

sought  in  trifles, 

■  — ,  how  only  found 

feelings  of  the  finder, 


Harlot, 

Heart,  the  Christian,      • 

Heaven,  pursuits  in, 

,  hymn  of  praise  in, 

,  poets  in, 

Hell  described,    - 

,  occujiants  of, 

,  duration  of. 


Hermit,    .  •  • 

Hills  of  Scotia,    • 

Honor,  false, 

Hypocrite, 

Idolatry,  • 

Inquisition, 

intellect,  how  distribnted, 

,  pleasure  in  exercising 


Joys  of  Time, 

,  Christian's, 

—  in  heaven,   • 
Jubilee  of  Earth,  • 

Judge,  dishonest, 
Judgment,  day  of, 

,  other  worlds  summoned  to, 

Justice,  sword  of^ 

King,  virtuous,    • 
— — ,  wicked,  - 
Kingdom,  mediatorial,  resigned 
Knowledge  in  Eternity, 

Lake  of  fire, 
Liberty,  love  of,  • 
',  true,  • 
Living  changed,  • 
Lord,  a  rich  noble, 
Love  divine,  to  man, 
— — ,  maternal,    • 

,  youthful,    •  • 

Lunatic,  ... 


Page 


Man  of  titles, 
— -  —  fame, 
—  —  fashion,    • 


Man  of  benevolence,    - 

.      g5 

Maniac, 

.     245 

Meeting  of  lovers, 

.      115 

Memory,  joys  of. 

.      121 

Merchant, 

.      180 

Mercy,  angel  of, 

-     247 

Mercy,  of  God,  how  treated  by 

men,  -          -     257 

Michael  summoning  worlds  to 

he  Judgment,  -     254 

Millennium,  state  of  world  in. 
Millennium,  state  of  world  aft 

-          .      132 

er,        -           -      145 

Minister,  ungodly. 
Minister,  faithful, 

-      207 

-     218 

Mirror  of  Truth, 

.       51 

Miser,    - 

.       58 

Missionaries,     - 

-      176 

Morn  of  Life,    . 

.      Ill 

Mother,  the  dying. 

.      125 

Mummy, 

.      170 

Musing,  solitary, 

-  124 
.       93 

Nature,  appearance  of,  at  Rest 

orection,        .     165 

Nature,  at  the  Judgment, 

.     262 

Nature,  lessons  taught  by. 

-       68 

Navigator,  in  polar  seas. 

-      176 

New  arrived,  the  Spirit, 

13  J  27  J  29}  210 

Novels,  .      '    .           . 

.       92 

Ocean,  apostrophe  to,    • 
Offer  of  life,  free, 

.  178 
33;  259 

Omens  of  earth's  dissolution, 

.      130 

Omens,  effects  of,  on  men, 

.      152 

Omens,  in  heaven. 

.      153 

One,  the  Holy,  - 

31 

One,  the  Three  in. 

95 

Orator,  frothy,   - 

-      145 

Persecution, 

.      194 

Piety,  increasing  happiness,     - 

Piety,  apostrophe  to,     - 

Poet,  at  the  Resurrection, 

Poel,  the  tnie,   - 

Philosophy  searching  for  happiness, 

Paradise,  plains  of, 

Pleasure,  her  forms  and  haunts, 

Prayer  of  the  Author, 

Pride,     .... 

Priest,  ungodly, 

Priest,  ungodly,  at  the  Resurrection, 

Prison  house  in  Millenium, 

Prophecy  fulfilled. 

Quotation  from  Thompson, 
Quotation  from  Cowper, 
Qjiotalion  from  Milton, 
Quotation  from  Shaksj^re,     - 

Reasoner,  the  famous,  - 

Recluse, 

Redeeming  Love,  praised  by  the  Bard, 

Redeeming  Love  praised  by  the  Bard  Newarrived, 

Redemption,  bow  effected, 

Redemption,  actual  extent. 

Remorse, 

Reputation,  value  of,     - 

Rest,      .  .  .  • 

Resurrection,  morn  of, 

Righteous,  the  reward  of, 

Roman  Legions, 

Rulers,  wicked, 

Rulers,  righteous, 

Rumor,  ... 

Rustic,  the  ignorant,     - 

Satan,  character,  ^-c-,  - 
Scene,  of  Poem  laid,     - 


215 
227 
229 
53 
12 
59 
251 
46 
42 
207 


Scenery,  Earth's 

Scenery  of  Britain, 

Scenery  of  the  Author's  native  place, 


Scholar,  the  dull. 

Seduction,  victim  of,     • 

Sennacherib,     - 

Separations  at  tlie  day  of  Judgment, 

Sights,  pitiful,  - 

Sin,       .... 

Slander,  ... 

Slave  equal  to  master,  in  what  sense, 

Sloth,     .... 

Solitude,  -n-alk  in, 

Solitude,  music  m,        - 

Sorrow,  ... 

Subject  of  Poem  stated, 

Suicide,  ... 


Theatre, 

Theologian,  the  bigoted, 

Throne,  white. 

Tempest, 

Time  of  the  Poem, 

Time,  end  cf,    . 

Trinitv, 

Tree  of  Holiness, 

Trump  of  God, 

Unbelief, 

Virtue,  character  of,     . 
Virtue,  image  of,  in  Hell, 

Walk,  lonely,  pleasure  of. 
Wall  of  Hell,  - 
Wicked,  their  sentence, 
Wi'imv,  wasted  with  grief, 

S2 


276  INDEX. 

Wife,  the  good,      '^q/iLiY*:'-  •      «a« 

Wisdom,  her  ^Ta^mngs,  .  i/      .  .       68 

AVisdom,  how  r^arded,  -  .  .69 

Wisdom,  defined  by  God  and  the  world,  .        71 

Worm  undying,  .  .  -  J6 ;  264 

Youth  early  cot  ofi;      .  .  •  -     232 

Zion,  regard  to,  in  Millemum,  .  -     134 


U^f-yi.  .M;ur-.'Jtry^ 


rt'T  "■■>"/' 


000  002  752 


